Country Lane Homemaking

I Needed More Than a Week

Well, today is Monday, so let's see how well I did on my goals list!

# 1- Get all of the laundry done - all of it!

Okay, not all of it, but A LOT of it.  Thank you Olivia and Heather!!

# 2- Organize all of those clean clothes.

Hmm, well, at least we started organizing them.

# 3- Prepare for the next six weeks of school.

Did I mean part of the six weeks or all of them?

# 4- Do an all around house clean-up.

Okay, I really did an all around house clean-up.

You just can't tell it now.

# 5- Finish reconstructing my website.  http://candyfoote.com/

Yeah, I did a lot on my website.

I am adding more daily!

# 6- Discipline myself to blog daily.  Well, hopefully daily.

Hey, at least I am blogging more than I was.

# 7- Keep working on my next three books!

I forgot how much work it is to write a book.

# 8 - Can tomatoes.

Sorry, tomatoes, I couldn't find time for you.

# 9- Freeze peppers.

I never froze any peppers, but we ate a lot of them.

# 10- Wrap and freeze about 300 pounds of beef from the bull that we just had butchered.

We ended up getting 400 pounds of beef!

I guess you know what the menu will look like all month.

Now add in my grandson getting an infection and being put into the hospital.

Plus, attending an aunt's funeral .

All and all, I think it was a successful week "off".

A Day in the Life of Me

Sunday, Oct. 12:

We went to church as usual.  We had a guest preacher today because today starts our week long revival meetings.  The preacher talked about alot of different stories in the bible but one really stood out from among the rest.  The story of Noah & the ark.  The preacher said that Noah built the ark not only for his family & the animals but for all mankind.  He said that no one would take heed of Moses warning so no one but Noah & his family were saved.  I have never heard this take on this story before.  Very interesting.

Monday, Oct. 13:

Today was a busy day as usual.  Exercising, vacuuming, dishes, homeschool, 5 loads of laundry & grocery shopping.  Everything was smooth sailing....

until....

I got home from the grocery store!  I was unloading the groceries from the back of the van.  I went to pick up the sack that contained 4 half gallons of milk in it and pulled a muscle in my lower back.  OUCH!  IT REALLY HURTS!  So now I'm kind of laid up.  It takes me forever to walk around the house, thank the Lord I don't have stairs!  I went to lay down in my bed & watch some t.v hoping that some rest would make it feel better.  NOT THE CASE!  I practically screamed when I had to raise myself off of the bed in order to get up to make something for supper.  We are just having some spaghetti & a salad tonight.  I was going to fix lasagna but I couldn't muster up enough pain tolerance to accomplish that.

My youngest has been feeling sick to her stomach today.  We just got over with a round of colds last week and now another?  UGH!  She woke up this morning saying that she felt like she was going to throw up.  She has eaten a few things & has been sipping on some Gatorade, water, & Sprite.  She has kept those down so hopefully she will be back to herself tomorrow.

Until next time....

Thanks For the Prayers

Gabriel is coming home!!!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of the prayers!!

Candy

caramel apple cupcakes

I made these cupcakes a couple of weeks ago, and they were a BIG hit!  I gave some to a couple of people i work with, and I gave a few to my mom and sent 1 along for my grandmother.  I got the recipe out of a cookbook called Cupcakes and Other Goodies by Publications International.

Caramel Apple Cupcakes

1 package (18 1/4 ounces) yellow or butter cake mix, plus ingredients to prepare mix

1 cup chopped dried apples

Caramel Frosting (recipe follows)

Chopped nuts

     Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line 24 standard muffin pan cups with paper baking cups.

     Prepare cake mix according to package directions.  Stir in apples.  Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling 2/3 full.  Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until toothpicks inserted into centers come out clean.  Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes.  Remove cupcakes to racks; cool completely. 

     Prepare Caramel Frosting.  Frost cupcakes; sprinkle with nuts.

     Caramel Frosting:  Melt 3 tablespoons butter in 2-quart saucepan.  Stir in 1 cup packed light brown sugar, 1/2 cup evaporated milk and 1/8 teaspoon salt.  Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat; cool to lukewarm.  Add 3 3/4 cups powdered sugar; beat until frosting is of spreading consistency.  Add 3/4 teaspoon vanilla; beat until smooth.  Makes about 5 cups.

Pumpkin Cornbread

We love pumpkin around here!  A friend of mine posted this recipe on her blog. We tried it last night and it was fantastic!! It's almost good enough to serve for desert!!  This recipe is from www.recipegirl.com

1/2 cup flour

1/2 whole wheat flour

1 TBS baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

2 eggs

1 cup canned pumpkin puree

2/3 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup oil

1 TBS molasses

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Generously grease a 10 inch square baking dish.  Combine dry ingredients and set aside.  Beat eggs, whisk in pumpkin sugar and oil and molasses.  Make a well in the dry ingredients and add pumpkin mixture and blend just enough, do not overmix. Bake for 30 minutes.

Enjoy!

~ gloria ~

The Truth About Halloween -- a Resource for Those who do not participate in Halloween

It's that time of year again...... many children may be decending upon your home in a few short weeks..... asking for candy and donning their newest costumes for this year's Halloween.

For those of us who feel convicted that they do not wish to participate in this day I have a wonderful resource that I have used in the past in lieu of handing out candy to kids. 

The Truth about Halloween is a little booklet that is produced by  www.rodandstaffbooks.com

It outlines the history of Halloween and why many Christians choose to not participate in this day's activities. You can purchase these in quanities for very little.

Many people may not realize the history or roots of Halloween and may be caught off guard by your choice to not participate in this activity. This booklet is a great way to present the facts in a  kind way.

We feel very blessed this year that  we attend a Church that does not sponsor Halloween activities. For years we battled this with our prior Church. It always deeply disturbed me that a church would sponsor "spook allies" or parade their children around dressed as witches and vampires!!    I am so thankful to be in fellowship with other believers who have been convicted in their hearts concerning this  day.  Our church instead focuses on the blessings of the harvest season and we sponsor a harvest fellowship meal in November.  Most the families who attend our Church also homeschool and share the same values. So we are truly blessed!  Thank yoiu Jesus for bringing us into this precious fellowship with others who share and believe our activities should reflect godliness!!

I know this is a personal choice and many who read this may participate in Halloween activities -- but I wanted to lovingly and kindly present this resource to those who are tired of explaining to their friends and family "why" they have chosen to not engage in Halloween actitivies.

~ gloria ~

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY,
Monday, October 13th, 2008

 

Outside My Window...a very chilly and clear morning

 

I am thinking...I need to get my taxes done, things are piling up and I am getting anxious!

 

I am thankful for...God providing work for my husband.

 

From the kitchen...Breakfast: cinnamon raisin bread, Lunch: sack-lunch to take with us on a field trip, Dinner: BBQ Chicken Casserole and rolls

 

I am wearing...black capris and a black t-shirt, barefoot

 

I am creating...a healthy food environment in my kitchen so I'm not tempted

 

I am going...to meet with friends and then to the community college's farm for a field trip and get veggies

 

I am reading...Lord of the Rings and The History of the World in Six Glasses

 

I am hoping...to get all my paperwork done

 

I am hearing...the kids eating breakfast

 

Around the house...still deep-cleaning and de-cluttering, getting the chicken coop rebuilt for winter

 

One of my favorite things...a warm house on a freezing day

 

A Few Plans For This Week: Work-outs, school, son testing for his next rank in jujitsu,starting a weightloss contest with friends, getting my hair done 

 

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

 My current computer background

Top Five Tips to Successful Grocery Shopping

1. Check your local newspapers for specials and clip coupons.

Now I have always said I can save more money by buyinng generic than clipping coupons.  And in years past, this may have been true.  But today, clipping coupons can save a family big money, depending on where you shop.  I am a little envious of those of you who have large stores near you who offer coupon and saving programs and offer double coupons.  We live in the sticks and most of these coupon games are not available for us.  However, finding coupon sites online and printing out coupons can be so helpful even if you don't have those stores in your area.  Finding soap on sale, great!!!  Finding soap on sale and having a coupon for it in your purchase, priceless!!!  LMSO  If done correctly, buying this way can cost you little or nothing at all for the item!

2.  Do not shop while hungry!!

Need I say more???  LOL  I myself, end up buying cheesecake and anything else with cream cheese in it when I am hungry at the grocery store.  Things I don't normally buy or eat because it goes straight to my hips (and everywhere else I am sure).  When hubby shops hungry he ends up coming home with JUNK FOOD GALORE!!!  Have you noticed when you are hungry at the grocery store, you don't stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables??  Save your waist line and your pock book, and don't shop while hungry.

3.  Avoid impulsive buys and stick to the list.

This is something I don't have much trouble with.  I make a list before going to the store.  It is divided into the areas of the store that make it easy for shopping.  Dairy, meats, canned items, cleaning supplies, frozen foods, produce, breads, etc.  I know exactly what I need, and I buy those things and get outta there.  I don't mind grocery shopping, but I can't stand the rude people, the loud screaming kids from 3 rows over or the children who drive their parents carts like they are race car drivers, so I am usually trying to hustle and get outta there.  LOL  Hubby, on the other hand, sees something, doesn't think about it and tosses it into the cart.  It doesn't register to him that buying those items will put us over budget.  He doesn't think about it not being good for him, or even looking for the generic version.  Nope.  He just tosses it in the cart.  He went to the store one time for milk and bread only.  He came home with $65.00 groceries!!!!!!!!!!  One month, he did this so much we went over our budget not by tens of dollars, but by HUNDREDS!!!!!  So the following month, I put us on a grocery diet and we didn't go to the store except for milk to make up for it!!!!  And don't ever give my hubby a blank check when going to the grocery store.  It makes him even worse! LOL 

4.  Plan week-long menus.  Plan a variety of meals.  Keep nutrition in mind,  and prepare well balanced meals.

As I said in a previous post, this is my main reason for planning dinners.  If I don't keep track of dinners in a menu, I can't tell how often we have had a spaghetti meal in one month, or how often we had ham.  With a menu planner, I can keep better track of what my family is eating and know that we are getting a variety of foods, and the fruits and veggies our family needs.  When our family doesn't plan meals we end up eating quick foods, which most of the time are processed junk and greasy fatty foods.  When planning dinner ahead of time I make sure they are more balanced.

5.  Don't let the packaging fool you.  Compare products.  Let weight, price, and content be your guide to value.

There are a few items in our pantry that I refuse to buy generic (after trying it once or twice first of course).  Everyone has those "luxury items"  I suppose.  LOL  For instance, does anyone use a generic Velvetta?  Not many I would say.  The generic is awful.  And although we use tomato soup in our house mostly in other dishes, we have realized the generic has a weird taste to it, so we wait until Campbell's goes on sale and stock up.  We no longer buy cereal because it has a brand name.  We buy cereal in bags from Malt-O-Meal at a much cheaper price or we make muffins and other breakfast foods instead.

Any other hints you have for grocery shopping you would like to share????

The Best Thing You Will See All Day!!

You HAVE to watch this video!  Be careful, you'll catch yourself smiling through the whole thing!

http://www.maniacworld.com/twin-baby-moose-in-sprinkler.html

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Menu Plans: Why I Have One (even though it changed often! LOL)

I love making out my menu plans for the month.  Don't ask me why!  I know some of you dread it.  It is a chore, but one I like doing.  It is the same as some people enjoying mopping or hanging clothes on the line, while other dread the unruly task I suppose.  LOL

I recently had a comment on my blog and a pm asking me why I plan a weekly menu if it is continuously changing.  Well, I had to think about that for a moment.  Much in the same way that you make your bed every day to jump in it that evening to mess it up again I suppose.  LMSO  (This was my excuse as a teen and even sometimes now as an adult when I get busy and forget to make the bed.  It worked as a teen only because my room was on the second floor and my mom never had to see it. LOL)

I usually plan out a months long menu planner according to what we have in stock (a large standing freezer, 2 refrigerators with top freezers, a large pantry and flats of canned items) and what is on sale.  I used to grocery shop once a month.  We have a family of 3, so it was doable, but I wouldn't suggest it.  LOL  First of all, we walked out with 2 overflowing carts full of food for just the three of us, it was exhausting, and it took most of the day to shop, stand in line to pay, load the car, drive 30 minutes back home, and unload and organize it all.  UGH!  Now I find shopping weekly or bi-weekly is much more managable, and I shop more of the sales doing this too.

I plan a menu mostly so I know what to expect, and so that I can guarantee that our family isn't having the same meal over and over again.  When things aren't planned out ahead of time here, we seem to make it a quick dinner and it isn't always that healthy.  Having the menu planner helps me know the night before what to thaw from the freezer and what to prep the next morning.  I use some time before or after breakfast each day to prep for dinner.  This is when I chop vegetables, brown the hamburger, or put things in the crockpot.  This way if the rest of the day ends up being busy, we end up running late because of a doctor's appointment taking 3 times as long as I would have liked (happens all the time), I have a step up on getting dinner on the table on time

Why does my menu change almost weekly?  Life happens!!  LOL  Matthew will end up working late, and I will change the menu to accomodate sometimes.  If I haven't felt well that day, I will look into the menu for the month, or see what I have on hand to fix a quick easy dinner of BBQ Beef Sandwiches (on buns I almost always have on hand in the freezer and can thaw when needed) instead of fixing lasagna that night.  Or sometimes Matthew requests a specific meal, and if I have the ingredients on hand I will try to accomodate his wants.  After all, he works super hard all week for this family, and if he wants one of his favorite meals that evening instead of what was planned, it isn't that hard to change a few things to make him feel loved!!  (I secretly love when he does this, because it means he likes my cooking and it is a pat on the back for me!)

For my family, having a menu planner helps us in having a variety of ingredients and dinners up our sleeve.  But it isn't anything cut into stone.  We need to be flexible and not let the menu planner be a controlling thing.  If we are invited by the inlaws to eat out (and because we know they always insist on paying, we usually say yes! LOL), then we know we can always have the Parmesan Chicken planned for that evening another time during the month.  If it goes onto the menu planner, we already have all the ingredients, so that is one meal later I don't have to shop for.

So, how about you ladies??? Do any of you love to menu plan?  Do you keep yourself strictly to the menu plan, or is yours forever changing??  Let me know!!!  I would love to see how others are handling this.