Thursday, May 15, 2008
Oh my ~ no more #10 cans at MH...
Well, this certainly can't be good:
I heard that perhaps later in the summer (maybe some time in July?) they may have them again.
Well, perhaps this means some (sh)people are waking up? But at the same time seeing that shortage/backlog is a bit disconcerting.
Just keep plugging away. We need to be the ant and not the grasshopper.
• 0 Comments
• Post A Comment!
• Permanent Link
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Does anyone know how to preserve banana peppers?
We love banana peppers and I've got lots of them planted. Both sweet and hot. But try as I might, I cannot find anyone who can tell me how to process them. We like the flavor that is had in the regular store bought ones. Are they pickeled? Just picking off the vine and eating raw does not float our boat. What do I do to get that sweet/tart flavor that we are used to?
I have searched and asked on what is normally my tried and true places when it comes to canning, but everyone just looks at me like I've grown an extra head and shrugs and says they don't know. Does anybody know how to process them? Pickle them? Anything!....
• 1 Comments
• Post A Comment!
• Permanent Link
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Maybe it's not supposed to be easy...
I hope I can make sense out of what it is I want to say. I hope I can convey my thoughts without muddying the waters. And heaven knows, I'm not wanting to offend a soul. I don't think I will, but then you never know. Before I go any further, if you follow the old testament as opposed to the new, you are probably not going to agree with me. Fair warning.
For many people that I know - from reading things online all the way to people I know personally in real life - I have often witnessed a struggle with trying to make Sundays into a day of rest. When the reality of it is that for alot of us - when you are attending up to two services that day - it's anything but restful. I have heard people say that they feel like they've had no weekend, no rest. And if God intended it as a day of rest, then what's wrong here?
Well, what if our understanding of it is a bit skewed? Under the old law the people were commanded to keep the Sabbath as a day of rest. But under the new law, weren't we commanded to gather with the saints and worship? Not rest and have a weekend for heaven's sake.
Our lives are very different than they were in Old testament times and quite frankly, we've got it easy. Some how I don't think that moaning and groaning that Sundays are soooo hard and we just don't feeeeeel like we've had a weekend at all is going to cut it. Perhaps we should just stop whining and do what it is we are supposed to do?? And I'm not being all high and mighty here as I'm preaching to myself just as much as anyone else.
It's just that once I got it in my head - and accepted the fact - that if Sundays are in some ways stressful, then so be it - it has in some ways actually taken stress off of me. One should not fuss, complain or blame the actual commanded act of worship for Sunday stress.
I mean, what is it that is just so horribly hard? Getting clothes ready, children ready and coordinated to leave, getting meal prep done? (And I daresay that some of the people making this particular complaint are not the ones in the household who even have to deal with these issues.) Really. None of these things are worth the amount of complaining I've heard about them. They're just not.
If we can get through all the other days of our lives with kids, meals, and clothing taken care of - trying to act like Sundays are any different is just not going to fly.
• 2 Comments
• Post A Comment!
• Permanent Link
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Empty Shelves
I seem to have grown a new appendage. It's furry, soft, has four legs and has decided it needs to be right exactly where I am AT ALL TIMES! Lol. Our older of the two cats has become such a spoiled baby. When we got her about four years ago she was a stray that just showed up looking to get out of bad weather. She was very street wise and savvy.
She is now a certifiable ball of mush.
Yep, that's what a few years with me will do to you, lol!
I had what ended up being a very busy day. When I got up this morning I was not planning on such a busy day. But then I realized that I would not be able to run my errands on Saturday due to an appointment me and hubby have. So, if I was going to get groceries, supplies and necessities, it needed to be now. I did do a bit of a stock up trip and it took a good hour to put it all away.
I reorganized one of my large shelving units for pantry supplies. I *love* the look of a nice, filled to the brim pantry shelf.
The prices at the store scared me today. I haven't bought ground beef for a while because of all the hunted meat we've had. I needed some today. The little teeny half pound packages now cost what I used to buy a family pack for. When it comes to ground beef, I've always tried to buy one of the lower fat ones. Not necessarily the lowest there is, but something lower in fat than the chuck. But it was just too expensive! I simply could not afford it today! ((Sigh)) I haven't bought the chuck in years. But I did it today. ((Another sigh)) I can just see my arteries clogging up as I type...
By now I'm sure everyone knows of the ration on rice at Sam's. Well, how about this? No rice at Sam's. At all. Not long grain, instant, brown, nothin'. And empty shelves too. I can honestly say I've never seen empty shelves at Sam's until today.
You better start stashing away your beans & rice ladies. It's gonna get rough.
She is now a certifiable ball of mush.
Yep, that's what a few years with me will do to you, lol!
I had what ended up being a very busy day. When I got up this morning I was not planning on such a busy day. But then I realized that I would not be able to run my errands on Saturday due to an appointment me and hubby have. So, if I was going to get groceries, supplies and necessities, it needed to be now. I did do a bit of a stock up trip and it took a good hour to put it all away.
I reorganized one of my large shelving units for pantry supplies. I *love* the look of a nice, filled to the brim pantry shelf.
The prices at the store scared me today. I haven't bought ground beef for a while because of all the hunted meat we've had. I needed some today. The little teeny half pound packages now cost what I used to buy a family pack for. When it comes to ground beef, I've always tried to buy one of the lower fat ones. Not necessarily the lowest there is, but something lower in fat than the chuck. But it was just too expensive! I simply could not afford it today! ((Sigh)) I haven't bought the chuck in years. But I did it today. ((Another sigh)) I can just see my arteries clogging up as I type...
By now I'm sure everyone knows of the ration on rice at Sam's. Well, how about this? No rice at Sam's. At all. Not long grain, instant, brown, nothin'. And empty shelves too. I can honestly say I've never seen empty shelves at Sam's until today.
You better start stashing away your beans & rice ladies. It's gonna get rough.
• 5 Comments
• Post A Comment!
• Permanent Link
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Letting our children be children
I love it that my kids, at ten and eleven, still act like kids. Not some version of a grown up in a small package. For us, I think homeschooling has really helped with that. My daughter was in ps through third grade. And I fear she was on her way to being older than her years. Luckily, we brought her home and her childhood returned.
It's the simple things. She loves Winnie the Pooh. When she was in ps, when it was time to purchase school supplies she always wanted some pooh bear pencils or folders or what have you. Then all of a sudden, she didn't want them anymore. They were deemed to babyish. All because she had been made fun of because she like Winnie the Pooh. When we decided to homeschool, I took them out and let them pick out a few fun supplies. Bless her heart, without the worry of being mocked, the child loaded up on Pooh bear supplies. All of a sudden they were not babyish anymore. She was given back the freedom to have her personal likes.
A few months ago I did a post about my kids playing with play dough. Well, their current favorite toy is legos. Now, except for stepping on an errant one barefooted, I love these things. They build - together - all during their free time.
I don't really know where I'm going with this or what my point is. Except it just does my heart good to see them playing like kids instead of worrying about appearing more mature than their years. It makes me thankful.
It's the simple things. She loves Winnie the Pooh. When she was in ps, when it was time to purchase school supplies she always wanted some pooh bear pencils or folders or what have you. Then all of a sudden, she didn't want them anymore. They were deemed to babyish. All because she had been made fun of because she like Winnie the Pooh. When we decided to homeschool, I took them out and let them pick out a few fun supplies. Bless her heart, without the worry of being mocked, the child loaded up on Pooh bear supplies. All of a sudden they were not babyish anymore. She was given back the freedom to have her personal likes.
A few months ago I did a post about my kids playing with play dough. Well, their current favorite toy is legos. Now, except for stepping on an errant one barefooted, I love these things. They build - together - all during their free time.
I don't really know where I'm going with this or what my point is. Except it just does my heart good to see them playing like kids instead of worrying about appearing more mature than their years. It makes me thankful.
• 3 Comments
• Post A Comment!
• Permanent Link
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Simple day, normal chores
Today will be:
lessons
hanging laundry on the line
making laundry detergent
piddling in the garden
taking daughter to dance class
cooking
stitching if time allows
That's about it for my Tuesday!
• 0 Comments
• Post A Comment!
• Permanent Link
Monday, May 5, 2008
Can someone please explain the wheat?
I buy almost everything in bulk. I prep. I'm a member at Mrs. S and have been for years. Heck, I even know that special hiding place in a certain piece of living room furniture for tp. (Those on Mrs. S. know what I'm talking about, lol) I understand what is happening and where it is leading. But what I don't understand is why I need wheat berries.
I don't have a grinder, though I guess I could get one. But why? If teotwawki happens and we are in dire straights, how is having hundreds of pounds of wheat going to help me? I can think of so many types of food I would want stockpiled. Why wheat?
Please enlighten me...
• 2 Comments
• Post A Comment!
• Permanent Link
Monday, May 5, 2008
Disregard previous post - blog is acting funny, will re-post later...
• 0 Comments
• Post A Comment!
• Permanent Link
Monday, May 5, 2008
...
• 0 Comments
• Post A Comment!
• Permanent Link
Monday, May 5, 2008
Monday in our small town home
It's been a pretty good, fairly easy day today. I started the day with making from scratch pancakes and getting laundry done and out on the line. I have the last load of the day out there now.
We did our school lessons but I still need to do our read aloud stuff. I think I'm going to make chicken and dumplings for supper. I took a frozen pie crust out of the freezer that's been in there forever, but it baked up fine and filled it with a chocolate filling I made out of chocolate pudding mix.
Other than that, ds and I went outside and got our lettuce bed all fixed up and lettuce seed planted. I actually have two that survived the winter all by themselves and they are now huge and beautiful. I know lettuce is a cold weather plant, but these two gave new meaning to that! I'm going to use some of that for a salad tonight.
I made up another batch of dog food today. A couple of things I wanted to clarify about that. When I talked about cooking the bones down till you can crumble them - that is a good thing to do but it does not take the place of actual meat! It's a good additive, but don't decrease your meat because of using the bones. Also, they do need hard things - it can't all be soft food because that is bad for their teeth. I mix some hard kibble in with my homemade food to help with that. Perhaps it would suffice to make sure they get plenty of dog bones or chewies to take care of that need? I'm not sure. So for now I will make sure I add some hard food in with it.
I've got about two more hours until hubby gets home, so I have a bit of free time. That's nice. I like to have supper when he gets home. Who wants a reheated meal every night?
Oh! Check out the two new message boards in my sidebar. One Frugal Mom and Totally Frugal.
I highly endorse both. One Frugal Mom is small and chatty. Totally Frugal is *the* place to be if being frugal is your lifestyle by either choice or necessity.
Well, I'm off for now. Hope you all had a good weekend!
We did our school lessons but I still need to do our read aloud stuff. I think I'm going to make chicken and dumplings for supper. I took a frozen pie crust out of the freezer that's been in there forever, but it baked up fine and filled it with a chocolate filling I made out of chocolate pudding mix.
Other than that, ds and I went outside and got our lettuce bed all fixed up and lettuce seed planted. I actually have two that survived the winter all by themselves and they are now huge and beautiful. I know lettuce is a cold weather plant, but these two gave new meaning to that! I'm going to use some of that for a salad tonight.
I made up another batch of dog food today. A couple of things I wanted to clarify about that. When I talked about cooking the bones down till you can crumble them - that is a good thing to do but it does not take the place of actual meat! It's a good additive, but don't decrease your meat because of using the bones. Also, they do need hard things - it can't all be soft food because that is bad for their teeth. I mix some hard kibble in with my homemade food to help with that. Perhaps it would suffice to make sure they get plenty of dog bones or chewies to take care of that need? I'm not sure. So for now I will make sure I add some hard food in with it.
I've got about two more hours until hubby gets home, so I have a bit of free time. That's nice. I like to have supper when he gets home. Who wants a reheated meal every night?
Oh! Check out the two new message boards in my sidebar. One Frugal Mom and Totally Frugal.
I highly endorse both. One Frugal Mom is small and chatty. Totally Frugal is *the* place to be if being frugal is your lifestyle by either choice or necessity.
Well, I'm off for now. Hope you all had a good weekend!
• 0 Comments
• Post A Comment!
• Permanent Link
Thursday, May 1, 2008
I made homemade dog food tonight! ~ here's what I used~
Thanks to everyone who responded to my previous post. I read through everything, did some more research online and asked around on a homesteading message board.
Among those that had been making their own food for a while, I noticed some consistencies. Now, I'm sure there's something still lacking, but for my first try I think I did pretty good. And oh my goodness did I ever have some happy customers!
First I cooked up some ground goat meat. (I'm just not mentally able to do the raw feed...) Then I added an egg to that and ground up the shell and added it in for calcium. I cooked up some oats while the meat was cooking. While all that was going, I put a canned of mixed veggies in a dish and mashed them up, liquid and all. Then I added in a can of pumpkin for fiber. After that I dumped in one can of salmon cat food for omega and fatty acids. Then I mixed it all together and added in just the little bit of supper leftovers that we had.
I measured it out one cup per large dog and 1/2 cup for the little. Then I mixed in a bit of their dry food for crunch.
Oh yeah, they're lovin me right now. I have enough left over the feed the three of them through tomorrow I think. I may add in some wheat germ to it. Rice is also very good to add to it. But I probably won't add in rice unless I'm already fixing rice for us. Then I may add just a bit of extra to the pot.
Also, you can pressure cook bones (chicken bones, whatever you have) and they will turn to a crumbly, mushy substance that is very good for the animals. That can be added to the dog food as well. ~ I *love* this as literally nothing is wasted!
If you hold off on things like the oats and rice, the rest of the mixture could be canned and you just add the oats or whatever when you open the jars.
I haven't done the math to see if this is cheaper, but I do know that at times of financial straights I can't go out and buy a 50 pound sack of dogfood. But I am likely to have the above ingredients sitting around not really being claimed for anything.
So for right now, this is a good thing.
Among those that had been making their own food for a while, I noticed some consistencies. Now, I'm sure there's something still lacking, but for my first try I think I did pretty good. And oh my goodness did I ever have some happy customers!
First I cooked up some ground goat meat. (I'm just not mentally able to do the raw feed...) Then I added an egg to that and ground up the shell and added it in for calcium. I cooked up some oats while the meat was cooking. While all that was going, I put a canned of mixed veggies in a dish and mashed them up, liquid and all. Then I added in a can of pumpkin for fiber. After that I dumped in one can of salmon cat food for omega and fatty acids. Then I mixed it all together and added in just the little bit of supper leftovers that we had.
I measured it out one cup per large dog and 1/2 cup for the little. Then I mixed in a bit of their dry food for crunch.
Oh yeah, they're lovin me right now. I have enough left over the feed the three of them through tomorrow I think. I may add in some wheat germ to it. Rice is also very good to add to it. But I probably won't add in rice unless I'm already fixing rice for us. Then I may add just a bit of extra to the pot.
Also, you can pressure cook bones (chicken bones, whatever you have) and they will turn to a crumbly, mushy substance that is very good for the animals. That can be added to the dog food as well. ~ I *love* this as literally nothing is wasted!
If you hold off on things like the oats and rice, the rest of the mixture could be canned and you just add the oats or whatever when you open the jars.
I haven't done the math to see if this is cheaper, but I do know that at times of financial straights I can't go out and buy a 50 pound sack of dogfood. But I am likely to have the above ingredients sitting around not really being claimed for anything.
So for right now, this is a good thing.
• 2 Comments
• Post A Comment!
• Permanent Link
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Help a sister out with homemade cat/dog food??
Does anyone here make their own cat & dog food? I'd love some ideas. We've got several canines and felines and their food prices are going up just like ours are! And honestly I'd rather spend my grocery money on us instead of them ~ but at the same time I want them fed and cared for.
I'm open to any and all recipes!
I'm open to any and all recipes!
• 4 Comments
• Post A Comment!
• Permanent Link
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Decisions, decisions...
We are in a place right now where we will be making some very important and long reaching decisions this year. Our plan is to move or to be in the process of moving by the end of this year. We had wanted to do this before, but it was near to impossible when my dad was still living. Then after that, we just couldn't seem to make our finances work out to give us the extra we would need.
But at this point it seems the Lord is providing the needed funds through a second contract for my dh that literally got dropped into his lap out of nowhere a couple of weeks ago. So, if the Lord wills it, we will be moving about an hour away to a small, cloistered community where we have some friends. Not friends really, family - not blood, but family nonetheless. They're the best kind.
Anyway. Back to our decisions. We do not want to be in a neighborhood environment. We are not neighborhood people. We would really like to be out to ourselves with room for planting and chickens, rabbits, and perhaps some goats. We want our privacy. My heart would be soaring happy if we could find a place where the house is set in a wooded area with a sunny patch not too far away for the gardens. But we will just have to see what we find.
There are two things that give me pause. One is that if you are living in the back of the boondocks (which really is where I want to be) that if you do find yourself in some situation where you need help, it may not exactly be forthcoming. The other thing I think about is that once we make this move, this is most likely going to be it for moves. This will be where we will be and will be from here on out. Having taken care of both of my parents and all that entailed, I can't help but think about myself say...40 years from now, elderly, maybe widowed and quite possibly with dementia...stuck out in the middle of the durn woods. I know, I know, talk about counting my chickens before they hatch...but I can't help it. My mind just works that way.
But even with those two things rattling around in my head...I *CAN'T* live in a neighborhood. I just can't. If you're not the kind of person who can understand that, please don't even try. I know some of you out there *get* what I mean when I say that.
Besides, we have to have our space to be able to have the animals we will need. I don't intend to have to deal with neighbors that don't want to hear dogs barking or who get uppidy if you don't keep a perfectly manicured lawn. Um, HELLO!!! I'm going to be busy with homeschooling, gardening, taking care of all the animals and every thing else our lifestyle will entail...I don't CARE if the bushes haven't been trimmed. It does not even hit my radar.
So. I'm just praying that the Lord continues to pave the way for us and when we do find the place that he intends for us that we're smart enough to realize it.
And that I don't have any neighbors...
But at this point it seems the Lord is providing the needed funds through a second contract for my dh that literally got dropped into his lap out of nowhere a couple of weeks ago. So, if the Lord wills it, we will be moving about an hour away to a small, cloistered community where we have some friends. Not friends really, family - not blood, but family nonetheless. They're the best kind.
Anyway. Back to our decisions. We do not want to be in a neighborhood environment. We are not neighborhood people. We would really like to be out to ourselves with room for planting and chickens, rabbits, and perhaps some goats. We want our privacy. My heart would be soaring happy if we could find a place where the house is set in a wooded area with a sunny patch not too far away for the gardens. But we will just have to see what we find.
There are two things that give me pause. One is that if you are living in the back of the boondocks (which really is where I want to be) that if you do find yourself in some situation where you need help, it may not exactly be forthcoming. The other thing I think about is that once we make this move, this is most likely going to be it for moves. This will be where we will be and will be from here on out. Having taken care of both of my parents and all that entailed, I can't help but think about myself say...40 years from now, elderly, maybe widowed and quite possibly with dementia...stuck out in the middle of the durn woods. I know, I know, talk about counting my chickens before they hatch...but I can't help it. My mind just works that way.
But even with those two things rattling around in my head...I *CAN'T* live in a neighborhood. I just can't. If you're not the kind of person who can understand that, please don't even try. I know some of you out there *get* what I mean when I say that.
Besides, we have to have our space to be able to have the animals we will need. I don't intend to have to deal with neighbors that don't want to hear dogs barking or who get uppidy if you don't keep a perfectly manicured lawn. Um, HELLO!!! I'm going to be busy with homeschooling, gardening, taking care of all the animals and every thing else our lifestyle will entail...I don't CARE if the bushes haven't been trimmed. It does not even hit my radar.
So. I'm just praying that the Lord continues to pave the way for us and when we do find the place that he intends for us that we're smart enough to realize it.
And that I don't have any neighbors...
• 4 Comments
• Post A Comment!
• Permanent Link
Sunday, April 13, 2008
10 Reasons why I blog~~
I've been tagged by my wonderful, beautiful closer-than-a-sister friend Traci.
So here I go!
Ten Reasons Why I Blog
1. I like the feeling of commradery between the Christian wives/mothers/daughters as we go throughout our days of cooking, cleaning, schooling together. It's not so boring and yucky to scrub the bathroom when you know several other internet friends are doing the same exact thing.
2. It's a wonderful source of information. The people that read my blog know that sometimes I'll put a question out there asking for insight or advice with homeschooling or what have you and I know I will always get good answers.
3. It's a good way to keep up with friends and for them to keep up with me. We all get busy, but they can hop on here and see if all is well or if we are having a problem of some sort. I can do the same with them.
4. Blogging has opened my eyes and broadened my horizons about other denominations. I was raised very much cloistered within my own and was never exposed to others. I have learned alot about others beliefs and I think I am better for it.
5. Some of you ladies have the best decorating ideas! Decorating is just not my talent. I really, really wish it was ~ but it's not. It has literally been the source of tears at times. I'm artistic in other ways but I can't decorate worth a flip. Any decorating I ever do is most likely going to be almost a carbon copy of something I've seen somewhere else. If it weren't for all the blogs that so graciously share their home decorating I wouldn't be exposed to all these wonderful ideas.
6. It's neat to get comments on something I've got on my blog because for the most part I consider myself pretty plain jane. To know someone thinks something I or my family has done is interesting is a great boost!
7. Recipes. I like to share them and I like to find them. Blogs are great for that.
8. I enjoy expressing a bit of my personality with my music, lists and such on my blog.
9. Sometimes, lol, it helps with housework. If I want to take some pictures for my blog and see the surrounding are not cleaned up, it gets me in gear to clean up.
10. Um......I ran out of things!
Ok, I tag Renee, Lori, and Teresa. Also, anyone else who wants to participate. Just comment back to me so I can see yours!
Ten Reasons Why I Blog. 1. Mel Avila Alarilla 2. Traci 3. Denita
Please copy the tag and add your name on the list of those who have done this. Please do this to increase traffic in our respective blogs and tag as many as you can.
So here I go!
Ten Reasons Why I Blog
1. I like the feeling of commradery between the Christian wives/mothers/daughters as we go throughout our days of cooking, cleaning, schooling together. It's not so boring and yucky to scrub the bathroom when you know several other internet friends are doing the same exact thing.
2. It's a wonderful source of information. The people that read my blog know that sometimes I'll put a question out there asking for insight or advice with homeschooling or what have you and I know I will always get good answers.
3. It's a good way to keep up with friends and for them to keep up with me. We all get busy, but they can hop on here and see if all is well or if we are having a problem of some sort. I can do the same with them.
4. Blogging has opened my eyes and broadened my horizons about other denominations. I was raised very much cloistered within my own and was never exposed to others. I have learned alot about others beliefs and I think I am better for it.
5. Some of you ladies have the best decorating ideas! Decorating is just not my talent. I really, really wish it was ~ but it's not. It has literally been the source of tears at times. I'm artistic in other ways but I can't decorate worth a flip. Any decorating I ever do is most likely going to be almost a carbon copy of something I've seen somewhere else. If it weren't for all the blogs that so graciously share their home decorating I wouldn't be exposed to all these wonderful ideas.
6. It's neat to get comments on something I've got on my blog because for the most part I consider myself pretty plain jane. To know someone thinks something I or my family has done is interesting is a great boost!
7. Recipes. I like to share them and I like to find them. Blogs are great for that.
8. I enjoy expressing a bit of my personality with my music, lists and such on my blog.
9. Sometimes, lol, it helps with housework. If I want to take some pictures for my blog and see the surrounding are not cleaned up, it gets me in gear to clean up.
10. Um......I ran out of things!
Ok, I tag Renee, Lori, and Teresa. Also, anyone else who wants to participate. Just comment back to me so I can see yours!
Ten Reasons Why I Blog. 1. Mel Avila Alarilla 2. Traci 3. Denita
Please copy the tag and add your name on the list of those who have done this. Please do this to increase traffic in our respective blogs and tag as many as you can.
• 4 Comments
• Post A Comment!
• Permanent Link
Monday, April 7, 2008
I need some help understanding how a Round Robbin works....
You know how sometimes you can take something simple but for some reason your brain just won't process it? How you feel when you are on the verge of understanding the concept but you just can't tip the understanding over the cliff?
That's where I'm at with the concept of Round Robbins. I'm coming to you with this question because I've already asked about it enough times in my group that if I ask again it's just going to be.....pitiful and stoooooopid.
I'm in a small cross stitching group, just 3 of us, that is starting one and even though I've read the instructions I'm still confused.
Here's the instructions I got (I'm just taking our names out):
RR: We can start whenever the two of you are ready. Just email each
other and me with mailing addresses and then off we go. I think we
should go in alphabetical order so I send to ------- first and then she
sends to ------- and you send to me, ------. Does that make sense? We
could give a time limit of 4 weeks once the rr is received for each
project. We can tell each other our themes but not post pictures until
we are completely finished the rr. I have mine sectioned off into 4
pieces so I can either add another one when it comes back or we can ask
if our new members want to join in. Another thing, when you send out
an rr post a message on the group site and do the same when you receive
and then we know that everything is moving along. Also post if you
need more time to finish.
Ok, I get how to section off the material. I understand who is sending to who. I understand to when to post about the project.
What I don't understand is: Are we all starting the RR together? As in I start my piece, they start theirs and then we all send? Or do I not start one and just wait till I receive a piece, do that one, send it off and then once it's gone through all of us the second person starts theirs and then sends it off and we start all over again?
I'm thinking we all start one at the same time? And then the rotations start after that?
Gah....my silly brain....can't believe I'm this confused over this...
That's where I'm at with the concept of Round Robbins. I'm coming to you with this question because I've already asked about it enough times in my group that if I ask again it's just going to be.....pitiful and stoooooopid.
I'm in a small cross stitching group, just 3 of us, that is starting one and even though I've read the instructions I'm still confused.
Here's the instructions I got (I'm just taking our names out):
RR: We can start whenever the two of you are ready. Just email each
other and me with mailing addresses and then off we go. I think we
should go in alphabetical order so I send to ------- first and then she
sends to ------- and you send to me, ------. Does that make sense? We
could give a time limit of 4 weeks once the rr is received for each
project. We can tell each other our themes but not post pictures until
we are completely finished the rr. I have mine sectioned off into 4
pieces so I can either add another one when it comes back or we can ask
if our new members want to join in. Another thing, when you send out
an rr post a message on the group site and do the same when you receive
and then we know that everything is moving along. Also post if you
need more time to finish.
Ok, I get how to section off the material. I understand who is sending to who. I understand to when to post about the project.
What I don't understand is: Are we all starting the RR together? As in I start my piece, they start theirs and then we all send? Or do I not start one and just wait till I receive a piece, do that one, send it off and then once it's gone through all of us the second person starts theirs and then sends it off and we start all over again?
I'm thinking we all start one at the same time? And then the rotations start after that?
Gah....my silly brain....can't believe I'm this confused over this...
• 0 Comments
• Post A Comment!
• Permanent Link
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Homeschool moms ~ help!
My 11 year old daughter has it in her head that because we do not cover the same things that the public school covers that she is somehow behind. A couple of years ago she looked in the math book of a ps friend and it was filled with things she was unfamiliar with. Well, anyone who has been reading my blog for any time knows that math has been her struggle all along. (Why, oh why did it have to be a math book she looked in?) She is much better and has really come far, but at the time she looked in that book she was (by ps standards) a good year behind.
I explained to her that it all evens out. That she can read and comprehend just as good as any adult I know. I don't even give her a spelling class or spelling lists anymore because it was just a waist of time. She is who *I* go to for help with spelling something! When we read history or she reads her science book, she understands it just fine and has no problem with the concepts.
Anyway, I just hate to see her down on herself. She is smart. She does learn. What are some ways I can help her to see that? Can anyone recommend some good books that I could let her read that would just expand her basic knowlege on lots of subjects? Maybe that would make her feel better. Any ideas would be appreciated.
I explained to her that it all evens out. That she can read and comprehend just as good as any adult I know. I don't even give her a spelling class or spelling lists anymore because it was just a waist of time. She is who *I* go to for help with spelling something! When we read history or she reads her science book, she understands it just fine and has no problem with the concepts.
Anyway, I just hate to see her down on herself. She is smart. She does learn. What are some ways I can help her to see that? Can anyone recommend some good books that I could let her read that would just expand her basic knowlege on lots of subjects? Maybe that would make her feel better. Any ideas would be appreciated.
• 9 Comments
• Post A Comment!
• Permanent Link
Thursday, April 3, 2008
A Frugal Funny
I was cooking homemade mac'n'cheese and pan seared spam for lunch today and it reminded me of something that happened way back when I was in college.
I never did catch onto the concepts in Macro or Micro Economics. Now I think I know why - I think it was because even way back then my mind worked in a more frugal way than what is considered mainstream.
I remember this conversation with my Econ prof. -
Him - Ok, when you're poor and you don't have alot of money and you go to the grocery store to buy meat, what do you buy? You buy spam!
This made perfect sense to me because we were very poor and we bought spam! (And still do, obviously.)
Him - Now, what happens when you get a big raise and you have alot more money? What do you buy then?
Me - More spam!
Him - (frowning) No you don't. You buy steak!
Me - blank stare
Him - looking like I'll catch on any second.
Me - No I don't. I buy more spam. I stock up! Why would I want to buy one pack of steaks when I could buy 7 cans of spam for the same price?
Oh me. I barely passed that class by the skin of my teeth. I still don't get it...
I never did catch onto the concepts in Macro or Micro Economics. Now I think I know why - I think it was because even way back then my mind worked in a more frugal way than what is considered mainstream.
I remember this conversation with my Econ prof. -
Him - Ok, when you're poor and you don't have alot of money and you go to the grocery store to buy meat, what do you buy? You buy spam!
This made perfect sense to me because we were very poor and we bought spam! (And still do, obviously.)
Him - Now, what happens when you get a big raise and you have alot more money? What do you buy then?
Me - More spam!
Him - (frowning) No you don't. You buy steak!
Me - blank stare
Him - looking like I'll catch on any second.
Me - No I don't. I buy more spam. I stock up! Why would I want to buy one pack of steaks when I could buy 7 cans of spam for the same price?
Oh me. I barely passed that class by the skin of my teeth. I still don't get it...
• 3 Comments
• Post A Comment!
• Permanent Link
Friday, March 28, 2008
I either need a large dose of caffeine or a kick in the pants....
...you decide.
I have soooo much that needs doing. And I just cannot find my energy at all. It's a problem. My husband and ds are off the town to take a load of yuck to the dump and then one small errand to a store and then they will be back home. I *should*could* be using this time to mop the yucky bathroom floor. Or change out the laundry. Or give a cleaning to the kitchen. I know that once they get back I'll be working on science fair projects probably the remainder of the afternoon.
And yet, here I sit.
My foot still hurts. I can walk one it, but slowly. Every step hurts. And for some odd reason I can't put my finger on right now, my hips are hurting too. Don't know why. So the thought of mopping, or standing up cleaning, or using the vacuum cleaner...these things just are not holding any appeal to me right now.
But I also feel like I should just buck up and plow through...cause I have one messy house.
So, what do y'all do? When you're hurting or dealing with whatever your particular ailment is? Do you rest or do you get with it and deal?
Caffeine or kick in the pants?
• 4 Comments
• Post A Comment!
• Permanent Link
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Ugg, Arrggg......and GAH!!!!
Heavens to Betsy. It just never ends.
I'm still dealing with certain parts of my parent's estate. From where I'm sitting my parents did some very silly things. They made decisions that, in the end, made it very difficult to for me to take care of things and on more than one occasion has cost me quite a bit of money that I really do not have.
Take this morning for instance. They had a lock box at the bank. Since they have both passed, I am responsible for that box and whatever it's contents are. Now, over the course of the past eight and a half months, there have been many occasions where I needed some type of important paperwork that just was not to be found anywhere. So, one would logically think that important paperwork would be put into a lock box, yes? Only, here's the thing, they never gave me a key, told me where to find a key, nothing. No key.
So. When you need access to a lock box at the bank in this small town that I reside in, you have have to have it drilled. And you can't just get it done whenever you need it done. He doesn't come all the way out to the bank to drill for just one box. Your name gets put in a file and when the bank has 6 or 7 of them they will call him and that's when you can get your box drilled.
So I've been waiting.
I finally got the call to be at the bank bright and early this morning.
I go. I'm hoping to find some important papers. Things to make the legal wrangling easier. Something to make all the silly decisions I've spent the last four plus years of my life navigating. Anything....just something that makes sense!
So he drills the box out and hands it to me. And what, you ask, does it contain???
Paperwork from 4 cds that were cashed out years and years and years ago.
Two empty envelopes.
One random bank receipt from the 1980's!
And. One. Rubber. Band.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please pardon me for one moment...
*%^*$(^*^()%*^$)%*^(&^*&&*%*$*&%*#*!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alright. I'm better now. Sort of.
Um, did I mention that I had to pay $200 for the privaledge of removing all that silliness from that box? Yep, two hundred bucks.
Um, did I mention that my husband is not working right now? And that we probably won't have any income until the first of May? If that??
Gah...
I'm still dealing with certain parts of my parent's estate. From where I'm sitting my parents did some very silly things. They made decisions that, in the end, made it very difficult to for me to take care of things and on more than one occasion has cost me quite a bit of money that I really do not have.
Take this morning for instance. They had a lock box at the bank. Since they have both passed, I am responsible for that box and whatever it's contents are. Now, over the course of the past eight and a half months, there have been many occasions where I needed some type of important paperwork that just was not to be found anywhere. So, one would logically think that important paperwork would be put into a lock box, yes? Only, here's the thing, they never gave me a key, told me where to find a key, nothing. No key.
So. When you need access to a lock box at the bank in this small town that I reside in, you have have to have it drilled. And you can't just get it done whenever you need it done. He doesn't come all the way out to the bank to drill for just one box. Your name gets put in a file and when the bank has 6 or 7 of them they will call him and that's when you can get your box drilled.
So I've been waiting.
I finally got the call to be at the bank bright and early this morning.
I go. I'm hoping to find some important papers. Things to make the legal wrangling easier. Something to make all the silly decisions I've spent the last four plus years of my life navigating. Anything....just something that makes sense!
So he drills the box out and hands it to me. And what, you ask, does it contain???
Paperwork from 4 cds that were cashed out years and years and years ago.
Two empty envelopes.
One random bank receipt from the 1980's!
And. One. Rubber. Band.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please pardon me for one moment...
*%^*$(^*^()%*^$)%*^(&^*&&*%*$*&%*#*!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alright. I'm better now. Sort of.
Um, did I mention that I had to pay $200 for the privaledge of removing all that silliness from that box? Yep, two hundred bucks.
Um, did I mention that my husband is not working right now? And that we probably won't have any income until the first of May? If that??
Gah...
• 4 Comments
• Post A Comment!
• Permanent Link
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
I've been tagged...
I've been tagged by Lori.
Seven things about me
1. I am a first rate procrastinator. Sad, but true. However I've always been able to pull everything together at the last minute quite well. Maybe I thrive under pressure??
2. I have....(gasp!) a tattoo. And.....(double gasp!!) I plan on getting another!! (Ok, pick your jaw up off the floor...)
3. I learned to drive in reverse before I learned to drive forward. At the time, our driveway had pretty deep ditches on both sides of the driveway. I needed to learn how to actually get out of the driveway without pitching the vehicle in before I could learn to drive on the road.
4. Even though I learned reverse first, I never learned to parrallel park. Can't do it, don't ask me to. I'll park around the block and walk if I have to, because I can't parrallel park!
5. I wholeheartedly believe that it is a sad thing that are too many books and not enough time to read them all. Same goes for needlework projects.
6. I used to work in a medical facility for about five years. Consequently, I know how doctors, nurses and other staff members *really* talk about patients behind closed doors. I know how, despite HIPAA, how medical and personal info gets batted back and forth between all staff members at any given facility. Because of this I have a deep distrust of doctors. I'm always very surpirsed when I do go to one and they treat me with respect. Even if it's the same doctor who has always been nothing but nice to me. I always go in with my guard up and my guns ready to fight. I am also always careful what I say, because I take it for granted that every secretary and office worker in the place will know everything that goes on. Even if the staff members don't talk, who do you think it is that actually makes and puts together your medical chart? Doctors and nurses certainly aren't spending part of their work day doing that....
7. I LOVE the smell of Vic's vapor rub. Love it, love it, love it. Also love the smell of Noxema.
Ok, that's my seven things.
I'm tagging Traci & Teresa. Anyone else reading this...consider yourself tagged as well!
Here are the rules:
1. Link to your tagger and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share seven facts about yourself (some random, some weird).
3. Tag seven people by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.Seven things about me
1. I am a first rate procrastinator. Sad, but true. However I've always been able to pull everything together at the last minute quite well. Maybe I thrive under pressure??
2. I have....(gasp!) a tattoo. And.....(double gasp!!) I plan on getting another!! (Ok, pick your jaw up off the floor...)
3. I learned to drive in reverse before I learned to drive forward. At the time, our driveway had pretty deep ditches on both sides of the driveway. I needed to learn how to actually get out of the driveway without pitching the vehicle in before I could learn to drive on the road.
4. Even though I learned reverse first, I never learned to parrallel park. Can't do it, don't ask me to. I'll park around the block and walk if I have to, because I can't parrallel park!
5. I wholeheartedly believe that it is a sad thing that are too many books and not enough time to read them all. Same goes for needlework projects.
6. I used to work in a medical facility for about five years. Consequently, I know how doctors, nurses and other staff members *really* talk about patients behind closed doors. I know how, despite HIPAA, how medical and personal info gets batted back and forth between all staff members at any given facility. Because of this I have a deep distrust of doctors. I'm always very surpirsed when I do go to one and they treat me with respect. Even if it's the same doctor who has always been nothing but nice to me. I always go in with my guard up and my guns ready to fight. I am also always careful what I say, because I take it for granted that every secretary and office worker in the place will know everything that goes on. Even if the staff members don't talk, who do you think it is that actually makes and puts together your medical chart? Doctors and nurses certainly aren't spending part of their work day doing that....
7. I LOVE the smell of Vic's vapor rub. Love it, love it, love it. Also love the smell of Noxema.
Ok, that's my seven things.
I'm tagging Traci & Teresa. Anyone else reading this...consider yourself tagged as well!