The Simple Woman’s Daybook for Monday  December 22, 2008

Thank you to Peggy at The Simple Woman for hosting this.

Outside My Window……. It is a very cold but sunny morning. The trees are still have a thick coating of ice on them from the storm we had last Friday and the sun shinning on the branches makes the trees look like they are covered with crystals.

I am thinking………It’s been so cold already and we are only a couple of days into winter, it makes me wonder what the rest of winter will be like.

I am thankful for…….  A warm home, plenty to eat, my faith and my family along with many friends here at home and online.

From the kitchen……  You can smell gingerbread men baking in the oven as today is Christmas cookie day here. I have gingerbread in now and when they are done baking sugar and thumbprints will be up next and after that we will be doing peanut butter.

I am wearing……….A pair of red sweat pants and a grey sweatshirt and a pair of heavy woolen socks.

I am creating……A quilt for my niece for her birthday in February.

I am going…… Absolutely nowhere until Christmas day, when we will be going to my husbands family for dinner.

I am reading….. A Good Woman by Danielle Steel

I am hoping ……That 2009 will be a better year for everyone, but no matter what comes we will make it through as a family.

I am hearing…… the news is on in the TV in the living room and the timer going off in the kitchen telling me the cookies are ready to come out of the oven.

Around the house…….  I will be doing a deep cleaning tomorrow to get the hosue ready for Christmas eve on Wednesday. I have some dishes to get ready to take with us on Thursday but other that that the house is in good shape.

One of my favorite things is…….. Having my husband home during the week, all of the chores and running around we do on the weekend but when he is home during the week we just a leisurely day together.

A few plans for the rest of the week …… Baking today, cleaning tomorrow, church services on Wednesday night and spending the rest of  the week with family and friends.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing……….

 Good Morning, it is good to be back here at HomesteadBlogger. It has been a very busy time for our entire family since the day after Thanksgiving. On the Friday following Thanksgiving my grandson came down with a cold and was very sick for over a week. My daughter being a new mom and all, was understandably stressed and grandma helped her out to get her through this first cold (we all remember what it is like to be a new mom). SO them grandma got it  and was down for quite a bit longer than I had expected. I hate those colds that drag on and on but what is there to do but take your medicine, rest and drink plenty of fluids like the doctors always tell us. The cold turned into bronchitis and then into a severe sinus infection so here we are almost a month later and I am finally feeling better.

Christmas decorations have all been put up and the trees are all decorated here at home. I have the presents wrapped and under the tree and I think we are all pretty well ready for the big day here at home. I have a costume to finish up for my niece who will be playing the part of Mary at our church’s Christmas eve ceremony but that will be finished up by the end of today and them I cam sit back and enjoy the rest of our celebrations.

I hope all of you here at HomesteadBlogger have been well and are enjoying these few days before we celebrate the birth of Our Savior Jesus Christ.

Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a sudden, spectacular program. -- Spencer W. Kimball, 1976

  Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! The past week or so has been crazy busy around here but after today I hope things will calm down around our place and I can get back into a more normal routine. I just wanted to drop in this morning as wish you all well today.

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
 I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
 My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
 My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
 Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
 Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
 Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
 My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
 Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
 In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
 So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
 But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
 Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
 sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
 My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
 And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
 A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
 A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
 Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
 Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
 Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
 "Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
 Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
 You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
 For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
 Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
 Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
 I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
 "It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
 That separates you from the darkest of times. 

 No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
 I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
 My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
 Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
 My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
 And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

 I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
 But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
 Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
 The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
 I can live through the cold and the being alone,
 Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
 I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
 I can carry the weight of killing another,
 Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
 Who stand at the front against any and all,
 To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall." 

 "  So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
 Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
 "But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
 "Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
 It seems all too little for all that you've done,
 For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
 "Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
 To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
 To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
 For when we come home, either standing or dead,
 To know you remember we fought and we bled.
 Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
 That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

 PLEASE, would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many
 people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our
 U.S service men and women for our being able to celebrate these
 festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people
 stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

  LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
 30th Naval Construction Regiment
 OIC, Logistics Cell One
 Al Taqqadum, Iraq

  I received this in an email from a friend today whose son and daughter in law are serving in Iraq again this holiday season.

LIFE IN THE 1500'S-   

The Simple Woman’s Daybook for Monday  November 17, 2008

Thank you to Peggy at The Simple Woman for hosting this.

  Outside My Window……. It is still dark, the sun is not up yet and I can see the trees swaying ion the wind. I have been out to do my critter chores and it is a cold and blustery start to the day and the week.

 I am thinking………I am glad that my husband and I spent the day in town on Friday, our Christmas shopping is done and the house is stocked for winter, not it is time to enjoy the fruits of our labors and the holiday season ahead.

I am thankful for…….My faith in god, my family, friends and the abundance of our harvests this year.

From the kitchen……  There is a chocolate cake in the oven baking and sugar cookies cooling on the table waiting to be frosted. For supper tonight we will be having a roasted chicken and sweet potato casserole.

I am wearing……….a pair of dark  blue sweat pants with a light blue sweatshirt, and heavy woolen socks, my feet are cold this morning.

 I am creating……I am working on some napkin rings for the Thanksgiving table, made from acorns orange wired ribbon.

 I am going…… To spend the rest of this week finishing up some deep cleaning in preparation for the holidays and then spend the weekend with my husband and family here at home.

I am reading….. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

I am hoping…..  for a break in the cold weather this coming weekend, as we have hopes of getting the gutters on the house cleaned out and getting some of the wood moved up closer to the house, so we will be prepared when the really cold weather gets here.

I am hearing…… nothing the house is quiet!

Around the house…….  I have a bit more deep cleaning I want to get done this week in preparation for the holidays. My husband does not have to work this coming weekend and we hope to get a few outside chores done.

One of my favorite things is…….. to have a quiet day at home on Monday’s alone so that I can reflect on my family’s busy lives and time to get my self organized and prepared for the week ahead.

A few plans for the rest of the week …… Egg and soap delivery’s in town on Thursday and possibly a tri in town with my husband on Saturday to take in a movie.

 Here is a picture thought I am sharing……….

This week our 100 Foot Diet Challenge meal is Sunday night’s supper, we are having Spinach salads, pasta with portabella mushrooms, crusty garlic bread and for dessert Blackberry cobbler. All the ingredients for this meal were either grown here at home or purchased at our local co-op all are organically grown.

Pasta with Portabella Mushrooms

1/4 cup pine nuts

21⁄2 cups small dried pasta shapes

21⁄2 Tbs. olive oil

8 oz. portobello mushrooms

11⁄2 tsp. salt

6 cloves garlic, minced

1 large red onion, thinly sliced

11⁄2 Tbs. minced fresh rosemary

1⁄2 to 1 tsp. crushed red pepper

1⁄4 cup vegetable stock

1⁄2 cup mirin or dry white wine

1⁄2 cup Dijon mustard

Cook pine nuts in dry wok over low heat until

lightly toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to plate.

 Bring 21⁄2 quarts of water to a boil in wok. Add

pasta; cook until tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain.

 Heat 11⁄2 Tbs. oil in wok over high heat; add

mushrooms and 1 tsp. salt; stir-fry until tender,

about 2 minutes. Transfer to bowl.

 Return wok to high heat; add 1 Tbs. oil, garlic

and onion; stir-fry 11⁄2 minutes. Add 1⁄2 tsp. salt,

rosemary and pepper; stir-fry 11⁄2 minutes. Add

stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook,

stirring, 2 minutes. Add to bowl.

Return wok to high heat. Add mirin and

mustard, and blend with wire whisk. Bring to

a boil; add pasta and mushroom mixture, and

cook 2 minutes. Toss in pine nuts, and serve.

From The Vegetarian Times Web Site

Thank you to all the men and women who are now serving in our armed forces and all of those that have served in the past. Freedom Isn't Free and we recognize all of your sacrifices so that we may live the life we do here in the United States.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook for November 11, 2008

Thank you to Peggy at The Simple Woman for hosting this.

Outside My Window……. It is still dark and cold outside. I can see some of the bare branches in the trees swaying in the wind. It looks to be another overcast, cloudy chilly day here in IL, but it is November after all.

I am thinking………I am glad that I got stared on my Christmas projects early this year I have about 7 small gifts let to pick up and my shopping, sewing will all be completed; I am looking forward to a peaceful, quiet time over the holidays with my family.

I am thankful for……. A warm home, my faith in God, my husband and family and for this hot cup of coffee I am having after I finished chores outside this morning.

From the kitchen……  I have a pork tenderloin in some marinade that I will split this afternoon and fill with herbed stuffing and roast for supper tonight. There is a large batch of whole wheat oatmeal bread dough rising on the back of the stove and later on today I will bake an apple pie for dessert tonight.

I am wearing……….a pair of dark green swat pants and a gray sweatshirt, I also have socks and slippers on as I am still chilled from doing chores this morning.

I am creating……I have some dark blue flannel that I am making into some pillow covers for the toss pillows on the sofa in the family room, the blue ties in with a snowman quilt that I will be outing on the sofa after Thanksgiving.

I am going…… To spend my day today baking bread and catching up on some reading.

I am reading….. A Good Woman by Danielle Steel

I am hoping…..  That the economy in this country can be turned around so that so many folks won’t be in such dire straits. I also have faith in my family and god to know that we will make it through whatever may be coming down the road at us.

I am hearing……  The news is on the TV in the next room.

Around the house…….  I have some deep cleaning I want to get done this week as we will be having Thanksgiving here this year. Thirty four for dinner is quite a gathering of family and friends and while it is a lot of work I am really looking forward to it. We will have a few out of town guests coming also.

One of my favorite things is……..Having the time to curl up on the sofa in front of the fireplace with a good book and a warm blanket on a Sunday afternoon and read until I get sleepy enough to take a short nap.

A few plans for the rest of the week …… I don’t have many plans for this week other than some deep house cleaning and a bit of sewing. I have to make my egg deliveries on town on Thursday this week and my husband will be home on Friday and we plan to go finish up our Christmas shopping then.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing……….

Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a sudden, spectacular program. -- Spencer W. Kimball, 1976

I was once told that a true test of a marriage is building a house together, and while I don’t think out marriage was ever in any big trouble building our home out here it was truly a test of patience. We both had our ideas of what we wanted in a home and we tried to mesh our ideas together but as the plans stated getting drawn we both got caught up in what I call cabin sprawl and we ended up with a larger version of the house we had envisioned. We knew we wanted a finished basement, complete with a kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and living area, the original idea was so that when my dad got older we would be able to take care of him here at home. Things never seem to turn out the way you think they will and we never thought dad would be gone so quickly and that our daughter would be married and have a child and a home of her home so quickly either. So here we are with 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 2 complete kitchens, a formal living room on the main floor and a family room in the basement, an office area, laundry room, sun porch and a prep/ safe room for 2 people. I love my home but there are several lessons we have learned along the way, the first being don’t let is get to big!

 We also knew as we were planning out home that we wanted to have more than one way to heat and power our home, even though we had lived in town we had be subject to power outages from severe storms that had lasted for a few days at a time. We wanted to have the means to run our home without being dependant on the power company. So solar power was one thing that we both knew we wanted to invest in. It takes a chunk of money to get started but if you have the money do it. Our highest power bill we have had since moving out her has been $52.00. I must admit I don’t understand all of the complicated working of our system but my husband does and it took some getting used to but it has been worth the investment. You have to take the time to turn off power strips and watch your consumption and learning about phantom loads was an education all unto its self.  It is a good feeling to know that come what may we will have electricity and heat.

Heating was another basic necessity we wanted to have more than one way to provide for our needs our.  LP gas is expensive and it seems to be getting more and more expensive as time goes by. My husband is a HVAC technician so his knowledge of different systems helped us figure out the best ways for us to use to heat our home. We heat with corn stoves, one on each level of the house when it is not to terribly cold, lows in the 20’s and highs in the 40‘s or so and when it gets colder than that we heat with an outside wood burner. We did have a traditional forced air LP furnace installed but we have only actually used it a handful of times in the two years we have been here and that was when we were going to be gone for extended periods of time. Some folk’s think we have gone to far in planning our homestead but we feel secure and safe here….. More later the journey continues!

Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a sudden, spectacular program. -- Spencer W. Kimball, 1976

Good Afternoon, it is a windy chilly fall day here in IL, I do believe that our lovely warm weather has left us for good this time. It hasn’t gotten chilly enough in the house to light a fire yet but I will start up the corn stoves and I just might light a fire in the fire place this afternoon.

 We have been pretty busy around here this week, trying to get outside chores done before cold weather got here. My husband Jeff took a couple of days off from work to get my green house wired and to get the heating units installed out there along with some lights. I have never had a green house before and I am looking forward to hopefully having some fresh produce this winter, keep your fingers crossed for me. Everything is all up and running and I even have some seedlings and plants moved from the house out there already. So far I have planted lettuce, spinach, radishes, carrots in a raised bed, and have tomatoes, green pepper, broccoli and cauliflower plants we started in the house going out there.

I am planning on spending the rest of the afternoon in the kitchen, I have bread dough rising and I am going to work up a batch of  Pumpkin cookies so there will be a snack on hand for this weekend, here is the recipe I use;

Pumpkin Cookies

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup canned pumpkin

1 egg

1t vanilla

2 cups whole wheat pastry flour

1t baking soda

1t baking powder

2t cinnamon

¼ t salt

Frosting

3T butter

½ cup brown

¼ cup milk

1 ½ to 2 cups powder sugar 

Cream the butter, cane juice crystals and sugar together mixing well.  Add the pumpkin, egg and vanilla.  Mix until well combined.  Add the remaining ingredients Drop by tablespoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake cookies for 10 to 12 minutes.  Let cool completely and frost.

Have a great Friday and enjoy the weekend!

Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a sudden, spectacular program. -- Spencer W. Kimball, 1976

The Simple Woman’s Daybook for November 3, 2008

Thank you to Peggy at The Simple Woman for hosting this.

  Outside My Window……. The sun is up, thanks to the time change and there are a few stay clouds in the sky. We are supposed to have a high today in the 70’s , strange weather for November in the Midwest! The chickens are out in the yard looking for breakfast and I can see the goats and Jess our milk cow out in the pasture munching away on some grass.

 I am thinking………this year has flown by; I can’t believe it is November already, just a few short weeks till Thanksgiving and then Christmas.

 I am thankful for……. The peace and quiet after having a house full of kids all weekend the quiet is most welcome this morning. I love my family but a bit of quiet time is always welcome.

 From the kitchen……  The coffee is just about finished brewing I can smell it from here, I have bread dough rising on the counter and there is a peach pie in the oven.

 I am wearing……….Blue jeans and a pink t shirt, my hair is till damp form my shower and I have shoes and socks on since I have to go into town this morning.

 I am creating……Nothing right at this moment but I am going to Joann’s later on this morning, to look for some new material and some pillow forms.

I am going……. to go into town with my husband today and run a few errands, we don’t get the chance to shop together to often so we should have a good day.

I am reading….. Julia’s Last Hope by Janette Oke

 I am hoping…..  That the warm weather we are having here in  the Midwest holds out for just a bit longer, I know it is time for cold weather to set in, I just am enjoying still having the widows open and the fresh air.

 I am hearing……  Our inside dog Jack is running up and down the hallway waiting on my husband to get up, he knows he hasn’t gone anywhere this morning and he cant wait to pounce on him when he gets up!

 Around the house…….  The house is in pretty good shape; I cleaned and did laundry after all of our company left last night. Later on this afternoon my husband and I plan to do some outside chores to finish getting ready for cold weather. It is time to put away the patio set and the hoses too.

One of my favorite things is……. Getting to spend time with my family like I did this weekend, and then getting the chance to spend the day with my husband.

 A few plans for the rest of the week …… I am heading into town today and them I will have my egg deliveries to make on Thursday. The rest of my week will be spent in the sewing room finishing up some projects I am working on for gifts for Christmas. I should be finished up with those soon and them I have a few things I would like to make for the house to decorate with for the holidays.

 Here is a picture thought I am sharing……….

This weeks 100 foot Diet challenge meal was lunch today Saturday; we started off with Butternut soup and a fresh green salad , and Pannini's made with mozzarella , sliced tomato and basil leaves. Dessert was balckerry cobbler.Butternut Squash Soup

1 Medium Butternut Squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed
1 medium vadalia onion, diced
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 inch piece of fresh ginger, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
Fresh Filtered Water

In a medium saucepan, add olive oil and onion and sauce until soft. Add ginger and garlic and mix. Add butternut squash and just enough water to the pot to cover squash. Cover and bring to a boil. Turn heat down and simmer for about 30 minutes, or until butternut squash is soft. Add mixture to blender or use an immersion blender to blend soup until smooth. Serve and eat!

Good Morning, it is a cold morning here in IL today it is only 24 so far this morning and this weather gives us a taste of winter that will all too soon be here. The corn stoves are making the house nice and toasty and I am glad to be back inside form doing my critter chores this morning.

 I always hang my laundry outside as long as possible for two reasons one being I love the way fresh laundry smells after hanging outside in the breeze and 2 because it is free to dry them in the sunshine. My dryer hardly ever gets used in the summer but yesterday was the first day I used the dryer since spring. I was making headway getting the pile of laundry done up when I thought to myself that dryer doesn’t sound right for some reason or another. I went into the laundry room and felt the top of the dryer and it was warm, but when I glanced into the drum of the dryer I found the problem, it wasn’t turning! Welcome to Monday was all I could say!  My dryer is only 3 years old as we got a new set when we moved in here I was upset but determined to fix the dern thing. I did some looking on the internet (for instructions) and went into the laundry room armed with a nut driver, a screw driver and a putty knife. Well for those of you that fix things yourself you already knew I had broken a belt. After an n hour or so of trial and error I finally got the belt on the dryer and had it back together. I was very proud of myself for fixing the dryer so I could get back to the business of laundry. When my husband got home I told him he dryer had broke and he was about to head out to the garage to get some tools and start working on it, when I said “let me show you something.” I took him to the basement and turned on the dryer and he just looked at it and said” I hope you didn’t call a repairman, they are really expensive.” I handed him the package the belt had come out of and said “why yes I did as a matter of fact and her name was Shannon!”  There truly is a sense of satisfaction at being self sufficient in many different ways!

 Have a great Tuesday and don’t forget to count your blessings today!

Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a sudden, spectacular program. -- Spencer W. Kimball, 1976

The Simple Woman’s Daybook for October 27, 2008

Thank you to Peggy at The Simple Woman for hosting this

Outside My Window……. It is still dark but you can hear the wind blowing through the trees, it is going to be a classic cloudy, blustery late October day here in IL today. I turned the chickens and goats out after critter chores this morning, but so far no one wants to run outside and play today.

I am thinking………I still can’t get over the fact that it is almost November, it seems just like last month we were planting our spring gardens.

I am thankful for……. A cozy warm home, a full pantry, my family, my husband and my faith.

From the kitchen……  The coffee pot is just about finished brewing up a pot of Fog Lifter and I have a chicken simmering on the back burner for chicken soup this evening.

I am wearing……….a pair of blue sweat pants, a dark grey sweatshirt and socks (my feet were cold this morning)

I am creating…… I am sewing some flannel pajamas for my grandson for Christmas and I have a dress cut out for my niece to wear to her Christmas pageant at school

I am going……. To stay inside today and enjoy the warmth of the corn stoves and the fireplace

I am reading….. When Tomorrow Comes by Janette Oke

I am hoping…..  That I can find the strength in me with the help of God, to deal with this rheumatoid arthritis and the challenges it will put before me.

I am hearing……  The news on the TV

Around the house…….  I need to workup a batch of laundry soap this morning and do a bit of dusting and sweeping.

One of my favorite things is……. A hot bowl of soup on a blustery day like today.

A few plans for the rest of the week …… No interesting plans for this week, just my weekly egg and soap deliveries in town on Thursday and spending some time getting a few Christmas projects finished up.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing……….

I got this in an email from a friend and I had to share it;

There is a God in the Post Office.
This is one of the kindest things I've ever experienced. I have no way to know who sent it, but there is a beautiful soul working in the dead letter office of the US postal service.

Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words: 

Dear God,

Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.

I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her. You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.

Love, Meredith.

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith , 'in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:


Dear Meredith,

Abbey arrived safely in heaven.

Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.

Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by

Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you.

I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.

By the way, I'm easy to find, I am wherever there is love.

Love,
God

Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a sudden, spectacular program. -- Spencer W. Kimball, 1976

 

This weeks 100 Foot diet Challenge meal was supper tonight and we had Angel hair pasta with creamy pesto and sun-dried tomato sauce, Apple cabbage salad, asparagus with lemon butter and for dessert blackberry pie. All the ingredients for this meal were either grown by us or purchased at out co-op and were organically grown.

Angel Hair Pasta with Creamy Pesto and Sun dried tomato Sauce

4 T. olive oil
4 T. butter
1 tsp. fennel seed
1/2 C. shredded Parmesan
6 garlic cloves
2 C. basil
1 C. sun-dried tomatoes
1/2 C. heavy cream
1/2 C. dry white wine

Shred 3 cloves garlic, basil, and the sun-dried tomatoes in a food processor or blender. Heat oil over high heat in a large frying pan with the three large garlic cloves. Remove the garlic and discard when they begin to brown. Lower heat, then add the chopped garlic, brown basil and sun-dried tomato mixture. Saute until garlic begins to turn brown. Add the butter. When butter begins to bubble, stir in wine and fennel seed. Cover and bring to a slow boil. Mix cream and Parmesan well and then slowly stir in. Add salt and pepper to taste, and allow to simmer. Serve over angel hair pasta.

Apple Cabbage Salad

1/4 C sugar
1 tsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp celery seed
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp dry mustard
3/4 C water
3 tsp cider vinegar
2 Tbs salad dressing
2 Tbs plain yogurt
6 C shredded cabbage
2 apples, cored and chopped

Combine sugar, cornstarch, celery seed, salt and dry mustard in 2-C microwave safe C or bowl. Gradually stir in water and vinegar until smooth. Microwave on high, uncovered, for 3 to 3 1/2 minutes or until mixture boils and thickens slightly, stirring once. Refrigerate until chilled, about 3 hours. Mix in salad dressing and yogurt. Combine cabbage and apples in serving bowl and pour on dressing. Combine cabbage and apples in serving bowl and pour on dressing. Toss lightly to coat. Serve immediately or refrigerate. Makes 4 servings.

Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a sudden, spectacular program. -- Spencer W. Kimball, 1976

It’s been a very busy week but I finally have a few moments to sit down and catch up. Last Friday my husband and I went to see the movie Fireproof, and after seeing the movie I see why all of the reviews I have read say it is changing marriages. It was an awesome movie that both my husband and I enjoyed immensely  and even though we do not have some of the same problems as the couple in the movie it does make one take a look at out relationships with not only our spouses but with god as well. I whole heartily recommend this movie to everyone. My husband and I do not go out to moves very often but this was one we both just had to see.

 I had a round of tests done at the neurologist this past week and passed all of the test, that was good news but; there is always a but in there L after having some blood work done and an exam by a rheumatologist it was determined that my problems I have been experiencing are from Rheumatoid arthritis and not a nerve problem. Life doesn’t always give you the answers you were hoping for, but all you can do is take the hard knocks and keep on going what is exactly what I am going to do.

Thursday was my birthday and I was treated to breakfast in bed and my critter chores were all done for me all day long. My daughter cooked supper for all of us and I enjoyed the day very much. I was presented with a sweatshirt and a pin from my grandson so that truly topped of a perfect day.

 I hope all here have been doing well over the past week and I am off to do some reading and catching up with everyone. Have a great Friday night!

Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a sudden, spectacular program. -- Spencer W. Kimball, 1976

The Simple Woman’s Daybook for October 20, 2008

Thank you to Peggy at The Simple Woman for hosting this.

  Outside My Window……. It is still dark but if you look closely you can see a thick layer of clouds so it looks to be a cool and cloudy day here in Illinois.

 I am thinking………that the weekend goes to fast, and am I really sure it is Monday already!

 I am thankful for……. My home, my wonderful grandson, and the joy I have from just being a stay at home mom and wife.

 From the kitchen……  A chocolate cake is cooling on the kitchen counter and a fresh pot of coffee is brewing.

 I am wearing……….a pair of gray sweat pants, a dark blue sweatshirt and socks (my feet were cold this morning)

 I am creating……Some new flannel shirts for my husband for Christmas gifts. I have 3 done and 2 to go!

 I am going……. to spend the day spoiling my grandson

 I am reading….. Julia’s Last Hope by Janette Oke

 I am hoping…..  That this EMG I am having at the neurologist on Wednesday willg e to the root of the problem with my hands and arms.

 I am hearing……  The news on the TV

 Around the house…….  Things are in pretty good shape this morning, I have a couple loads of laundry to do today and a bed to make and that is pretty much it.

 One of my favorite things is……. The crisp cool days and nights of fall, I love sweatshirt weather and the cool weather gives us a hint of what is soon to be…..winter.

 A few plans for the rest of the week …… I have an appointment at the Neurologist on Wednesday so I will be making my egg and soap deliveries on Wednesday as well. Other than that I don’t have a place to go ……just the way I like it!

 Here is a picture thought I am sharing……….

Last night was our 100 Foot Diet Challenge meal for this week. The temperatures have cooled doff quiet a bit this past week so soup weather ifs finally here. My family loves a nice steaming bowl of homemade soup some crusty bread and a cool green salad for supper. So we had; Italian Pasta and Bean soup along with a crisp green salad and a loaf of crusty garlic bread. All of the ingredients used to prepare this meal were either raised here at home or bought organic at the local co op.

 ITALIAN PASTA AND BEAN SOUP

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 medium carrot, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice

1 large celery stalk, cut into 1/4-inch dice

Two 16-ounce cans cannellini (large white beans), drained and rinsed

7 cups water

2 cups diced zucchini

2 bay leaves

1 1/2 teaspoons Italian herb seasoning mix

1/4 cup tomato paste

1 1/2 cups ditalini (tiny tubular pasta)

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

 Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Heat the olive oil in a soup pot. Add the onion, garlic, carrot, and celery, and sauté over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the onion is golden. Add the beans, cooking liquid or water, zucchini, bay leaves, herb mix, and tomato paste. Bring to a simmer, then simmer gently, covered, until the zucchini is just tender, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow the soup to stand for an hour or so to develop flavor.

In a separate saucepan, cook the pasta al dente. Rinse briefly under cool water until it stops steaming. Add the parsley to the soup and heat it through. When the soup is hot, add the cooked pasta and season with salt and pepper. Serve at once.

From In a Vegetarian Kitchen

Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a sudden, spectacular program. -- Spencer W. Kimball, 1976