Kelly's Chaos

Six Full Days!

My hubby has off for six full days!  This comes after a very full three weeks of him working very late.  He was putting in 12-18 hour days.  So, his boss gave him a few days off!  I really needed a break from being the only parent around!  He did do really well at work, through all of the long hours.  He is the "golden boy" right now.  But, I'm sure that as soon as he returns in 6 days, they will have a new one!  We did get him a new car- his died!  A moment of silence......We have been so blessed with this new car!  God is good! We are hoping to sell his car for scrap!  This will give us enough money for Christmas and drop the stress levels around the house!  My poor hubby works so hard!  We have someone coming over tomorrow to look at his car.  So, I'll be praying! 

Gary is picking me up 1 bushel of pears, as I type this and I have about 54 ears of corn calling to me.  I just don't know what to turn them into!  It's down to cream corn or a corn chowder. 

Well, Have to get on with my evening!

Blessings!

Monday Menu!

Adoption?

Friday's To Do List:

Well, today is another busy one!  My to do list:

1) make potato salad for Luke's party

2) make BBQ for Luke's party

3) go to Amish Market!!

4) Drop off papers at a friend's house

5) Pick up papers for Girl Scouts

6) Laundry

7) clean upstairs

8) mop upstairs and down

9) check tomatoes and process and freeze

I'm sure that I'll be adding to this!  Tomorrow, we are having a birthday BBQ for Luke, so there is a lot to do!  Monday, I plan on starting school-full time.  We have been schooling days, here and there, since July 1st.  We have about 21 days, so far.  This Thursday, we start a new Co-Op and I am thrilled about that!  Our "extras" for the weeks are filling up!  This is what our home schooling week looks like (so far) with extras:

Monday: Boyscouts

Tuesday: all Kids- Soccer

Wednesday: Hopefully a youth group for church and for Kala- Choir

Thursday:  Hopefully Girl Scouts and every other Thursday- CO-OP!

Friday:  Art Class for Kala

I'm trying to find another "extra" for Lucas!  He's so lazy when it comes to doing anything more then what is required of him! Colan will also have speech 2 times per week.  I'm also having Kala evaluated (Hopefully!) and she'll have speech too!

I can't wait for a schedule again!  I also can't wait to be able to put out my fall decorations!  I love my pumpkins!  I told my hubby that Sept. 1st was the day for that!  I love fall decorations more then Christmas ones!  I know- crazy!

Have a wonderful day! Blessings!!

My 12 year old boy!

Today Lucas is 12!  I just can't believe how fast time has gone by! 

Happy Birthday LULU!

Busy Weekend!

As promised a couple of pictures of my weekend projects.  Don't worry- there are no sewer pictures!

This is a picture of my herb project (sorry it's dark!)  My hubby went out and found this "twig" and hung it for me.  Then, I hung my herbs to dry, with twine!  I have mint, thyme, oregano, and purple sage.

I also made raspberry jam!  I can't wait to open some with some fresh bread from the oven!  I also love it on a bagel, on top of cream cheese! YUM!

Blessings!

Mutant Tomato

I found this crazy tomato in my garden.  It looks like 2 tomatoes that fused together into one.  I don't know if we should eat it or bronze it?!

Monday Menu and "to do's"

Here is what we have planned for this week's menu:

Monday:  Meatloaf

Tuesday: We are going to Pizza Hut, after Hershey Park, for Luke's birthday!

Wednesday: skillet strogonoff

Thursday: breakfast- pancakes (plain and blueberry), hashbrowns, sussage links

Friday: shake and bake chicken thighs

Saturday:  Luke's birthday BBQ: homemade sloppy joes, hot dogs, baked apples, homemade mac-N-cheese, cole slaw, homemade potato salad, homegrown tomatoes, and, (of course), cake and ice cream!

Sunday:  Beef Roast

Today's to do list:

1.) Bake cake for Luke's birthday- (just the 5 of us) (DONE)

2.) Check tomatoes and procees and freeze. (DONE)

3.) Clean and vac. upstairs. (DONE)

4.) Laundry- fold- put away. (DONE)

5.) Help Luke finish his Boy Scout project. (DONE)

6.) Do some school work (Math, Reading, Lang. Arts) with the kids.  (DONE)

Things for Saturday now!

Well, we are still up in the air as to if we will be even able to live here through the weekend!  If the builder doesn't show up in the morning (at about 6:30 am)- we'll have to go to my mom's!  This sewer thing is just a mess! This is the 5th time it has broken.  The sewer authority says that we need to turn the bill over to the builder for today's work.  Good luck getting the builder to pay!  But, we'll try.  So, please say a prayer that our sewer gets fixed tomorrow!  It looks like I'm missing my training tomorrow.  I really wanted to go.  But, I can't go, not knowing what is happening with my house! So, here is what I have to finish tomorrow!

1) Make candles in blue jars with sand. (Done)

2) change hamsters (Done)

3) iron  (Done)

4) laundry (8-10 loads!) (On Hold until sewer is done.) (Done 2 loads!)(Done all and put away!)

5) clean and vacuum upstairs (Done)

6) Cut the grass (Gary's Job!)  (Done!)

7) Check the tomatoes (Done)

8) Pray about my sewer being fixed!!  (Done- but still praying that it stays fixed!)

I'll be up by 5:45 to 6 am- praying that the builder is true to his word and shows up on time.  Also, pray that I have the back bone to stand up to him and tell him this is not our fault!

Blessings

Sewer

Well, the builder looked at our sewer, and says that it is broken and it's our fault.  He wants us to have it sucked out and then he'll take a look at it.  I asked if it could have anything to do with the electricity going out for 2 1/2 hours yesterday and he said no.  Then, he said, "Well, something made it stop pumping yesterday." I said again, well, maybe no electricity was the problem- no answer.  So, as of right now, he went to get some rubber gloves- no I don't have them in my home.  And he's going to see about fixing it.  If not, I have to get it pumped TODAY and then have him come in tonight to fix the pump.  Please pray for us- right now, we have no toilet to use and washing hands, laundry or anything else can't happen, unless I want sewage in my yard!

Well, it seems to be working- although the lid has been put on and I can't see into it.  I can feel the pump working through the vibrating lid.  It is going down very slowly- I won't know for a few more hours if it worked.  I think the builder is going to try to back charge me.  Here's the thing- I had to help fix it!  I had to put on rubber gloves and help pull the pump up (which was heavy- about 100 lbs.)  Then, I had to hold the pump up, by myself, so that he could grab it out of the sewer tube and put it on the ground to unclog it.  That took 1 min.- he jammed a screwdriver into the end of the pump and turned it.  Then, I had to hold the pump (alone again) so that he could aline it and then I lowered the pump back down.  So let them try to backcharge me!  I'll have my own bill for my time and services made up so fast!  So, here I wait, not going to market, afraid to do laundry, and probably not getting my letters to the post office in Weis on time.  I don't want to leave and come home to a problem that needs attention!  I am hoping that the alarm goes off soon- then I will know that I am in the clear!

And the saga continues!  Well, just turning on the pump and leaving turned out to not be such a great plan of action.  I opened the sewer lid about 2 hours after the builder left, and it had not budged!  So, I ended up having to call in a sewer company to drain the tank.  Now, the pump won't come back on.  The builder said he couldn't come back until tomorrow morning- early- like 6:30 am (we'll see!)  But, we can't use the toilet/showers and forget being able to do laundry!  We can flush- but not too much!  So, my hubby (who still isn't home) wants to eat dinner and then lift the pump out again to see if he can get it working.  I will have to rubber glove up (again) and help. This is how I'm feeling about all of this!!! At this point, I don't know if I'll be able to go to my Girl Scout training tomorrow.  I don't want to leave Gary with the 3 kids and all of these problems.  Although, I've been doing this all alone, with 3 kids, all day.  But, I can't do that to him!  I'm praying for that darn pump to start working! I'll keep you updated!!

Homemaking Meme

ABC's Of Homemaking

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Aprons – Y/N? If Y, what does your favorite look like?
Yes! I have an apron with roosters on it that I wear for everything!  I am hoping to get 2 more aprons this year still!  I also have a Pampered chef apron, that only consultants should have.  A friend of mine worked for them and ordered me an apron! 

Baking – Favorite thing to bake
Breads- any type, cakes, muffins, and cookies- okay, I just love to bake!

Clothesline – Y/N?
No.  But I want one!

Donuts – Have you ever made them?

Yes- but yuck! They were really bad!  I'll stick with store bought.  Plus, if I go to Dunkin Donuts, I can get an iced coffee too! 

Every day – One homemaking thing you do every day.
Um- everything- I'm type A!  Even the bathrooms-EVERYDAY!

Freezer – Do you have a separate deep freeze?
Yes, I have 2 of them.  One for meat and one for everything else!

Garbage disposal- Y/N-

Yep

Handbook – What is your favorite homemaking resource?
My cookbooks- too many to count!  I have a 1953 Better Homes and Gardens cookbook that is a wonderful source!  Also, everything my Grandma's taught me! 

Ironing – Love it or hate it? Or hate it but love the results?

Hate it!!

Junk drawer – Y/N? Where is it?
No- I don't do JUNK!

Kitchen – Color and decorating scheme

The walls are a barn red, my furniture is oversized black and cherry wood- very farm house looking!  My cabnets are cherry and I have stainless steel appliances.

I have every barnyard animal you can imagine in here too! My fav.'s are the roosters!

Love – What is your favorite part of homemaking?
Making homemade, healthy food for my family.  Having a warm and inviting home for people to come into.   

Mop – Y/N?

Yes- 2 times a week- at least!

Nylons – Wash by hand or in the washing machine?
Don't wear nylons!

Oven – Do you use the window or open the oven to check?

Open the oven- I like to see it and smell it!

My "to do" list:

I wanted to put this here, so that I wouldn't feel guilty about dropping by tomorrow to see you all as I check off things from my list!  I have a very busy day, and it seems to grow by the minute!  I need to go to bed to stop this monster list!  I just heard the alarm for our sewer.  This could be because the electricity went off for over 2 hours today or that we had so much rain- no I'm not complaining, we needed it!  So, if the light is still on in the morning, that will be #1!

So, 1) Call builder about sewer alarm and have him come out to fix! (Light is off- so don't have to call!)(Light is back on- but-the builder is here working on another house!-So, he will look at it!) (see new post!) (ON GOING!)

2) make candles in blue jars with sand and voltives.

3) change sheets, lysol beds. (Done!)

4) change hamsters

5) iron

6) laundry (On Hold until #1 is done.)

7) clean and vacuum upstairs (Done!)

8) decide to either freeze or can tomatoes.  check plants. (Done and I got them into the freezer!)

9) cut herbs from front garden and hang to dry.  (I'll post a picture of the finished project- my hubby made me a beautiful "hanger" out of a long log.  He hung it over our picture window in the kitchen.) (Done)

10) thaw pork roast for Sat. and thaw meat for Fri.'s dinner and thaw raspberries (ALL IN AM!) (Done!)

11) make raspberry jam (Done)

12) Go to Amish Market- FUN!! (Didn't get to go with the sewer problems!)

13) pick up milk, poster board for Luke and mail letters at Weis Market (Gary is doing all but mailing the letter- he's also shopping for Luke's birthday gift!)

14) Mop up and downstairs. (Upstairs done)

15) dust up and downstairs. (Upstairs done)

16) touch up paint in Family room- very much needed!!! (Done)

17) bake peach crisp (Done- and Yummy!)

18) self clean oven- IN AM!!!! (1/2 way done bottom oven- then about 2-3 hours for top.)

19) seek mental help for my cleaning problems!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As you will learn, I am a shamefully clean person.  It is so bad that I've prayed about it.  I had a wonderful homeschooling grandma, that used to live across the street from me in southern PA.  She had custody of her grandkids.  She used to call me and say, "we are praying that the Lord delivers you from your vacuuming!" Now, she said this half kidding- but just half!  I really need to get these things finished before Sat.  I have Girl Scout training up at the Hershey Lodge all morning/afternoon on Sat.  We even get a catered lunch! It's all about the food- right?

Well, I'm off to bed- I think!  Blessings!

Back to school!

Tamara is offerig a hole year of home schooling fun for moms!  Click on the above do-dad and check it out! Slackers welcome- she says that you don't have to participate in every assignment! So, for all of you busy mom's that don't like to committ- check it out- you might have some fun!! Blessings!

A Giveaway!!

Head on over to Jen's blog at: http://www.homesteadblogger.com/thecottageporch/

She is generously giving away these two wonderful books:

 "Created to be His Helpmeet" and "The Helpmeet's Journey" companion journal 

All you have to do is leave her a message and a bribe (Just Kidding!!!) and post a link on your blog!  Good Luck!! Blessings!

Oh The Places You Will Go!

I am going to share a little more about myself- mostly because I'm trying to get out of my housework!  We are truly a family that has come "full circle" in our lives!  We have lived a lot of places, and last October, we were blessed to have been able to move back "home"!  My hubby and I were both raised in Maryland.  We are country people at heart.  In fact, Gary's family owns a dairy farm.  His uncle and aunt (who have both passed) owned it, and now it is run by their kids.  We love to go out to the farm to "play"  Boy- my hats off to you all who farm for a living- it is hard work!

From MD, we moved to PA, when Lucas was 1 year old.  We lived just over the MD. line and did everything in MD.  I can't really say that we "lived" in PA- we just slept there!

After 5 years in PA, we moved to New York- Not the City!!! We moved to a place called Beacon, on the Hudson River.  We lived in a lovely home, built in 1850, overlooking a river!  It was on a little one way street.  It was wonderful- but the neighbors- not so lovely!

We lived in NY for 4 years and then, we moved to Wisconsin!  This was my first time even leaving the East coast!  Boy was I out of my comfort zone.  In NY, we had SNOW- in WI, we had COLD!  Sub-zero cold!  We lived 30 min. north of Madison, in a little town called Poynette.  It was truely country living!  We lived in a brand new home, with a big front pourch, over looking a golf course!  It was truely a dream home!!  But, God had a different dream for my family!  After only 18 months, my husband lost his job, due to cut backs.  I still don't know how we surrvived for 4 months without a paycheck- God!  We never went hungry and we never missed a bill payment!  It was truly the work of the Lord!  Gary was offered a job at the first company that he worked for, in MD.  We could move home- to family and friends.  My husband left the kids and I in WI for 5 month, to sell the house.  In those 5 months, we only saw him 6 days!  We were so lonely!  We finally got an offer on the house, and took a $40,000 loss!  It was worth it to have our family back together!  God is taking care of the extra debt that we took on!  We had to buy a smaller house, and we have to live about 1 1/2 hours from Gary's work, in PA.  The houses up here are much cheeper then in MD! But, the Lord is teaching us to truly live on a budget and live under our means!  We were able to buy new again- only because that was what was available!  We only had 1 month to get out here, find a house and close on it, to be able to be out of our WI home in time for that closing! So, here is our "cottage"-

I am quite happy here!  We might not have a huge home, or yard, but it is enough for us!  I have a garden in the back with tomatos and peppers! (this picture is after a storm all but destroyed the garden!)

My hubby put in a beautiful flower garden in the front of the house!

And we have "wild life", right here on our property!

Oh- and we have cowboys!

And Mommy's that blog in PJ's!!

Blessings!!

Orange Zucchini Bread

I had a request for my recipie for orange zucchini bread- so here it is Melissa!

This makes 2 loaves:

Bread: 4 eggs, 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder, 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda, 1 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tsp. salt, 2 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. cloves, 3/4 cup oil, 2/3 cup orange juice, 2 cup shredded, unpeeled zucchini, 3 1/4 cup all purpose flour, 2 tsp. grated orange peel.

Glaze: 1 cup powdered sugar, 2-3 tsp. orange juice.

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease 2 loaf pans.  In a large bowl, beat eggs until thick and lemon colored.  Gradually beat in sugar.  Stir in oil, 2/3 cup of orange juice and the zucchini.  Stir in the remaining ingredients; mix well by hand.  Pour batter into pans.  Bake 45-55 min.  Cool 10 min. and remove from pans.  Cool slightly more.  Mix glaze ingredients together and spread over the loaves.

* I used 2 large zucchinis and it made up 8 loaves!  This bread was soooooo good with the glaze, slightly warm with a hot cup of tea!  Yummy!! I'm assuming that it freezes as well as regular zucchini bread, although I haven't taken any out of the freezer to eat!  Enjoy!!

Kitchen fairies and canned goods!

I wanted to catch you all up on what has been going on in my kitchen this summer! I canned vegy. soup!  It was a long process!  Just chopping all of the vegetables and getting them assembled into a soup took about 2 hours a pot!  I made 5 pots!!  Then, I had to pressure cook the cans, 6 at a time, for 75 min.  I started on a Fri. evening and finished on a Sunday afternoon!  I now have 29 Qts. of soup for the winter!  I have also canned 51 jars of peaches, 50 jars of spaghetti sauce, 20 jars of pizza sauce, 24 jars of B&B pickles, 24 jars of beets (my MIL canned those for me!), about 30 jars of grape jelly, and 8 jars of strawberry jam.  I have also frozen 40 bags of blueberries, 30 bags of strawberries, 8 loaves of zucchini bread, 8 loaves of orange zucchini bread, bannana bread, and various muffins! And, I can't say that I'm done yet!  I still have tomatos from my garden, pears, applesauce, raspberry jam and who knows what else I'll get myself into! Here are some pictures of my jars.  They are in my laundry room.  My hubby hung that top shelf for me!  Now, I have some extra room, but still not enough for all of my jars that I want to do.  I'm thinking of storing the pears and applesauce, that I have yet to can, over my cabnets in my kitchen.  I have a teapot collection there now, but figure food is more important!       Oh- and there's good news- I found my kitchen fairies!  Don't they look happy?!? These are my 2 oldest- Lucas and Kala.  Colan (the 5 year old) is smart enough to run when I get the "I need the dishwasher unloaded" look in my eye! I hope you like my "show and tell"!  Have a blessed day!

Introduction!

Hi!  My name is Kelly and I'm not too new to blogging.  I have a blog at homeschoolblogger.com- under the same name!  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/PAhomeschooler/ - feel free to visit.  Some of the posts may be doubles though.  This page will be dedicated to home making/cooking and general care of my home and family. 

Now,  tell you a little about my family- There is my hubby- Gary.  He's a wonderful provider and husband/father.  He works as a chemist.

Then, there is me- Kelly- I'm a homemaker, homeschooling mom to 3 kids!

Well, then there are the 3 kids:  Lucas is going to be 12 on August 14th!, Kala is 9 and 1/2 and Colan is 5!

I hope that my time here blesses you all in some way!  Blessings, Kelly

Peaches!

 Peaches- lots of them!!

2 bushels to be exact!

I canned for 2 full days!  I ended up with 51 jars of peaches, one yummy peach cobbler and about 20 left over white peached to eat and bake with this week!  The peaches in the boxes are red haven- they are very nice for canning.  We tried white peaches for the first time- boy are they sweet- but not good for canning.  They turn brown too easily. 

I'm sore, tired and my fingers ache!  But, in the end, it is worth it!  I have 43 jars for my home and 8 jars going to Gary's grandma!  I'm trying to do a little extra for her, each item that I can! 

The end of the week (when my fingers heal a little!) I'm making raspberry jam.  My MIL picked me 10 cups of raspberries and froze them- they are just waiting for me!  I got some real pretty jelly jars and am hoping to have some extra for Christmas gifts this year!  I will only keep about 7 jars for myself- we also have grape and strawberry jellies for the year!  My pickles that I did awhile back should also be ready this week!  Just in time for Luke's birthday BBQ!  My oldest turns 12 on August 14th!  We are having a family BBQ on the 18th for him!

Blessings!