Down Mulberry Lane

Refreshing the wood stove...

Today I spent a couple hours cleaning and working on the wood stove.  The fire was still burning, so I did not clean the window as of yet, but you can see what was done today.   The stove was all rusted from the wet moist weather we had this summer, you know, when Iowa had all that flooding.   Well, I took a toothbrush and scrubbed all of the cast iron details.  I also cleaned up the cast iron pot on top of the stove.  After that, I took some vegetable shortening and a clean toothbrush and wiped down the entire stove.  I had only intended to do the cast iron, but the splatters ended up getting onto the soapstone so I just oiled them completely down. 

It looks nice, now.  The oiled stone brings out it's details... with our home being so dry, the stone had almost turned... flakey white.   You can notice that a bit on the top of the stove by the pot, where the oil has already seasoned into the stone... it is still a bit white.  However, I am still quite pleased with the results as the stone looks better than it has in years and the cast iron is nice and black again.  Along the top edge the cast iron looks a shiny brown color, but that is an error from the flash... it all looks nice and black.   I was a bit concerned about getting the oil onto the stone, but it has not appeared to have altered the stone color. 

Now, I need to get back down there and clean up the tiled areas.   I told the girls before I put up the tree, the fire area is getting a good cleaning and a good spiffing.  We need to redo the tile, you may have noticed the missing tiles in front of the stove.  Hopefully that will get done next summer.  It looks like the stove pipe could use a bit of oil as well!  LOL... too bad my toothbrush has melted into a hard piece of plastic from doing the door of the stove... that was quite warm and melted it very quick. 

Well, I've delayed long enough...

Warmly, ~Melissa

Funny!

My 3yo likes to sing along with the older girls.  They like the song Emmanuel... the refrain goes like this... Rejoice, rejoice, emmanuel, shall come to .....

My little one starts the refrain... Be Joyed!  Be Joyed! 

Too cute!

Warmly, ~Melissa

Books for Sale...

Happy and Content...

On Thanksgiving I was blessed not to have to cook.  It was a nice meal that my MIL had prepared.  My husband's nephew and his (nephew's) girlfriend came up to visit from Colorade.  It was really nice to see them.  They are nice kids... can I say that???  LOL... they are younger than me!  LOL. 

Last night I picked up my nephew and he spent the night with us, wanting to share in the Friday morning sales.  This has been a tradition for us, although it is becoming apparent that a NEW tradition may need to be started.  We only needed "two" things this year and so we got up early (3:30 am) and went to get the items.  We had to hit 4 stores to try to get the best price, so we split up... my daughter taking another daughter and I took my nephew and another daughter.  By 9 am we were done shopping... really didn't have anything we wanted... so we went out for breakfast... the funnest part of the tradition, I guess... the kids enjoy getting together and when we eat out, somehow we can eat what we like and my nephew what he likes and everyone is happy.  (and I don't have to do dishes or cook!) 

Since we were done with early bird sales, I went to Menards to get some room paint for my kids' rooms.  After the rebate we'll pay about $3.50 per gallon of paint.  I got 4 gallons of paint and that is enough to do 3 bedrooms!  They needed painting so the paint rebate sale was a blessing for us!  That wasn't an early bird special... just a sale that we happened to want to hit.  I also hit a Friday sale at JoAnn Fabrics.  Our family tradition is to get new pajamas each year.  Looking at the prices, I just sighed... I opted instead to buy some fabric on sale and make our own.  Flannel was on sale for $1.49 a yard and I figured I could make a pair of pajamas for  between $3 and $6 each. 

My girls happened to be tired of shopping and opted to go home while I ran some needed errands.  I stopped by the  bank, filled up the car with gas and that is then when I stopped at the fabric store and enjoyed a peaceful time of looking at material and patterns without a little one trying to steal my attention.  I arrived home to a clean house.. the girls cleaned the house and even mopped the floors. 

I am tired tonight.  From being up so early, I imagine.  That is Okay.  After watching so many people today... I have been pondering much about my interactions, our traditions, etc.  I long for the quiet and some time to think.  After each store we retreated to our car which played softly playing Christmas music.  It was soothing.   Our favorite part of the day was simply just eating and talking together.  My kids have enjoyed this 5AM tradition of shopping (I got up at 3:30 simply because that's when I woke up).  I realized they just enjoy getting together with their cousin and spending time together.  They don't have much in common with him, so the "Shopping" was a way to connect.  But today they found they connected by just eating together and making conversation.   Perhaps God is leading our hearts to change!  Perhaps it is time for traditions to change. I saw my nephew open up today.  My youngest, Paige, cried when I picked her up at 7:45 am so Dad could go to work.  She wanted to be with Daddy.  My nephew quietly watched her cry (and I noticed a sympathetic expression in his manners) ...I simply kissed her and said... I like being with Daddy, too.  It was enough... Enough to have someone understand her little heartache.  That heartache, however is a longing with my nephew that he just doesn't talk about at all to us.  His Dad has never been around for him since birth.  He talked to him a couple times on the phone, but to my knowledge has never met his Dad.  When my sister came to pick him up, they talked a bit and she shared that her other son was visiting his Dad and she was upset that he wasn't a good role model and my nephew just simply said... at least he has a Dad, I'd give anything to spend time with my Dad.  My sister just pushed that aside and changed the conversation.   I just was amazed that my nephew said that outloud.  He has often shut down, cried but would never open up...(not even to his Mom and especially not us) and to have him open up today... was quite amazing.  It had to be God working in his heart!  So tradition is good in the sense that it got us getting my nephew comfortable with going shopping together for 3 -4 years now... and I'm hoping that with him feeling able to open up a bit, that perhaps we can connect on a different level than "shopping".    Much to think about and ponder!

For now, I am content and happy.  

Warmly, ~Melissa

A restful day...

Well, Dh came up today and said he liked my haircut this way.  This is not like him at all.  He rarely takes notice of any outward appearances of mine, so for him to mention my haircut twice... I'm thinking it must really be something he likes.  I tried blowdrying it one day as it was cold and when I dry it, my curls go to frizz, so I just try to brush it straight, and he didn't like that, said it was still tooo poooofy.  My hair straight is poofy, and I laughed at the sight of it.  My kids thought it was funny that my hair would poof so much... I hadn't blow dried my hair in a long time so they probably don't recall seeing what that does to my hair!   Dh just said, please don't blow dry your hair... I like your curls.  LOL

~~~~~~~~~anyways...

We had a nice potluck after church.  Two soups to choose from.  I choose the vegan creamy tomato soup.  I had that before and I enjoyed it.  I like a bowl of it from time to time.  I made the recipe myself, once, and it is too much for me to eat it all week long.  I was happy it was at potluck so I could enjoy a bowl again.   We had sandwiches to go with and some side dishes as well.  We enjoyed some good conversation.  My daughter's friend from college had come to church to visit.  We enjoyed getting to know her.  She is a nice girl, quiet, much like my daughter. 

This afternoon we taught a couple girls at church "Silent Night" in sign language.  They enjoyed learning and singing.  We took some time for them to also learn singing harmony as a group.  We plan to present this to the adult SS around Christmas time.   The girls are all excited as well. 

I enjoyed a quiet evening tonight at home as well.  My older girls went to vespers with some others from church and then planned to go bowling with a friend from church who's grandchildren were visiting for the weekend.  Because of that, I was able to have a quiet house.  I made fried potatoes (with a few thrown in veggies) for supper for Dh and me.  Not much else to say... I just really enjoy the quiet some days! 

Our sermon today was about faith.  Well sort of.  LOL.  The sermon itself had a different route than where my thoughts were taking me.  I ended up getting the faith message from the texts shared today.  That has been on my heart today as I've enjoyed the quiet.... Faith. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

Tried another new recipe...

Sweet Potato Quesadillas.   I got the recipe from Angela and I thought they were really good.  A bit spicy, but not too bad.  I actually reduced the spices a bit and was fine with the taste.  I just know I couldn't have done all that chili powder!  LOL.  But, they were good, I really liked them.  (We substituted cheesey sauce for cheese).

However... I had two daughters try them... and one spit it out.  I had another two refuse to try them.  My husband said they were good, but would have like them with real cheese (I used a cashew sauce).  I didn't see anything wrong with them and we eat fried sweet potato slices all the time... ???  I served them with our homemade tacos and everyone LOVES those homemade corn tortillas and perhaps it was just too much food. 

I asked if they would eat them just as a meal and eyebrows raised.  I don't get it because this was actually quite good and I saw nothing wrong with it at all.  I get the feeling sometimes that they are ganging up to veto foods so that I will just give up. 

A funny, we're out of the colby-jack cheese that they love and use on everything.  We ran out last week and I had already said that we wouldn't buy more food until payday.  I can make a cheesey sauce and I wasn't that worried... they eat it at potlucks at church, so I figured we'd be fine.  But they got some pizza cheese... mozzarella/provolone/ and cheddar cheese mix that they put onto their tacos... (it was in the freezer).  I figured they have got to be desperate... , but not desperate enough to give into eating more healthy. *sigh*

I really don't think they are out to veto things, but they are holding my trials up to a higher standard, meaning it needs to taste as good as Thanksgiving dinner, in order to join the menu.  Seems a bit unfair and I believe they are missing out on some good food by being so particular.   I'm going to have to just make my own recipe file for me... what I like, because it's beginning to look after 2 months that I will be dining alone.  : (   I just hope my attitude about doing so doesn't bring me down.  I feel so much better not eating dairy... I'm less sore, less tired, I have clearer thinking... and less grumpy days.  Plus my health will be much better as well... heart disease is a huge factor in each side of my family and I just don't want to be another statistic. 

I have to remind myself daily that this IS worth it!  

Warmly, ~Melissa 

Progress still being made...debt free journey update...

We paid the bills the other night and found we are having enough to pay the bills, however my grocery money was a little short this month due to all the car repairs.  I told everyone that we will just have to wait until Dh gets paid until buying some more food. 

This really isn't a problem at all.  I have a good stockpile of the basics... whole grain for breads (and all the other bread staples), dried beans and basic herbs and spices, rice and pasta, canned tomatoes and other sauces, cashews and peppers for my "cheesy sauce", some rice and almond milk in their vacumn sealed boxes... basically everything we need to survive except DAIRY!  LOL.  I even have plenty of fruits and veggies.

So we are again dairy free for another week as a family, together!  *grin*  God is so good to me.  My family is supportive again this week because we are out of cheese, milk, etc... due to money shortages.  I get a short breather for me to catch my breath and be ready for the holidays without dairy. 

I've noticed the last two weeks the attitudes around the house are more selfish in nature and I haven't been quite able to figure out what to do about it as of yet.  I never really noticed, but tonight, I went to church to hold our monthly health meeting and I asked my girls if they'd come with and help and not one was willing to go.  This is really odd... they've always been willing... then one of my daughters pipes up with ... what will you give me?  I looked at her questioningly and she replies... will you take me out to eat?  I said, we're serving dinner at the health meeting, why would we go out to eat and then she said... no, I'm not going. 

I was just stunned, I've not ever really encountered them rejecting an opportunity for service at church.  In fact, they have always LOVED helping in the kitchen and I was floored by the reaction.  Oh my kids have had days of not helping from time to time, but usually in coincided with "something" going on in their lives... but this... I don't know... I think it is more heart issues I am dealing with.  Perhaps my dairy free break is not only for me, but for them to have to give of themselves.   I will have to do some praying this week to see if further direction is needed.  Now that I am aware of this, I'll likely need to pay attention to what is ruling their lives... self or Christ.  I know many times I do not notice myself when I stray from what is right and sometimes redirection is needed.  God seems to find a way to wake me up and get my attention.  It seems that now is a time for my girls to "see" what I have seen today.  May God give me wisdom that I can do it in a loving and non-critical way so that they might be open to change. 

My computer time is about done for today.  Time for a quick pick up before bed.

Warmly, ~Melissa 

Sour Cream Patties... Dairy Free.

This weekend, I tried making Sour Cream Patties, but without dairy.  Beings dairy is a main theme of this recipe, I was hoping it would turn out.   It was fine.  My daughters said it was just like the regular version... my only change was that I used tofu sour cream in place of the dairy version. 

Sour Cream Patties:

Patty:

One can of vegetarian burger, 4-5 eggs, 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, 2 packets of george washington's broth (just the powder)... a chicken or beef flavored seasoning is a good substitute for this, and a 1/2 teaspoon of sage.

Mix together and fry in a non-stick skillet... no oil necessary if you let the pan heat up first.

Sauce:

2 cups of sour cream, 2 cups of a seasoned broth (I've done both vegetarian chicken or beef... both are good), mix together.  One small can of mushrooms/drained, and one onion sliced into rings.

Layer patties, mushrooms and onions in a pan... can use a 9 by 13 or layer in a 3 quart crockpot.  Pour sauce over it.  Let the crockpot cook on low for about 4 hours.  OR bake at 350 F for 45 minutes until bubbly and onions are soft. 

This is one recipe my husband enjoys and me going dairy free was killing him because the only vegetarian dishes he likes contain dairy.  *grin*  My girls said Dad won't even notice a difference.   He didn't get to try them...since he was at work and they were gone before he had a chance to try them. 

One more recipe to add to the approved list.  At least I have a nice meal for special occasions that I can count on.  This recipe is a bit pricey and I tend to double it and put it into my 5 qt. crockpot when I do make it.  Left-overs are still just as great! 

Warmly, ~Melissa

OUCH!

I stubbed my toes and I just had to tell someone.   I feel like I have nails sticking into the tips of my toes...

Sitting here with my feet up in the air, ~Melissa

Still trying new recipes and more of my life...

Today, I tried a sweet'n sour stir fry.  I really tried hard to eat it, but it was so yucky!  It was way too much tomato flavor than what I was expecting.  I ate about half, but then I couldn't eat anymore.  I like stir-frys in general, but this one wasn't to my liking.  I couldn't fall back on the family meal, because my daughter made the potatoes, with cheese and sour cream in them, and the loaf had cheese in it.  I guess I could have eaten corn and WW bread.  Actually, I did eat some bread, cuz I was so hungry. 

Today I spent a good portion of the day arranging paperwork for our Living Well meetings at church.  I put together a notebook with monthly dividers so we can plan ahead.  I typed up some recipes.  I hole punched our planning pages and inserted them into the binder.  I addressed some postcards and will mail those out tomorrow morning, I hope! 

My van got fixed.  My brakes have been squeaking each time it rains, likely because we live on gravel and the dirt just makes for nice squeaks.  But as of lately, they sounded different, although, I didn't think they acted different.  Well, we had put every other vehicle in for something or other in the last couple months that it seemed time to check the van.  Dh actually wanted to fix my doors as the lock/unlock button never opened any doors and I had to do them manually, but they were often stuck in locked position or open position.  Two doors wouldn't even open with the door latch.  He figured it was just from living on the gravel because this was a sporadic problem, although it had worsened considerably the past couple months.  I guess something was broken in the doors... they all had to be replaced... and Dh also fixed the door open light/alarm as that was always on and dinging even when every door was shut.  He just mentioned for them to check the brakes cuz I had said something recently and they found the back brakes to be broken, the lines were even broken... so those were completely replaced... the front were fine.  Well, nearly $1000 later, my van works!  UGH... Dh thought maybe $300-500 tops but almost $1000.... he gave up his bale spear money so my van doors would work.  It was frustrating to run out in the rain and stand there and manually open one door, then crawl in and HOPE you could get a door open for the rest of the family.  I am sure the girls will appreciate this fix so much.  My car now smells of cigarettes from the shop, but it works. 

I got a hair cut.  The day after Dh's birthday, I decided to cut my hair.  My daughter had an orthodontist appointment, so she had to sit and wait for me.  They cut off 6 inches... I didn't realize it had gotten that long.  I am trying to cut the "color" out of my hair.  The trial of coloring my hair wasn't good.  My head itched all the time and I didn't "love" the color... I feel more comfortable just being "me".  Cutting off the colored hair will take time, but it will grow back soon enough.  As for my hair cut... I'd show a picture, but wouldn't ya know that the very day after I got it cut, I got this HUGE ZIT on my nose!  Since I do not know how to photo edit, you will have to wait to see it.  It is just above my shoulders, the back is layered with long layers... just the bottom 2 inches or so.  The sides she layered up to my bangs... so it is still the length of the back, but with shorter layers.  Everyone says they like it... it's different from the one length haircuts I've had for many years.  I am finding it a bit harder to care for.  My hair is curly and after lying on it... it goes flat.  I tend to sleep either on my back or my side and I wake up to one side curly and one side wavy/long/flat... really, it looks longer than the other side until it is washed and it curls back up.  So, no waking up and heading out the door on the run... I definately will argue for a shower as my new DOOO does not sleep well.  I think it is too short to pull back at the moment (I could with a pony tail and some barrettes), but Dh is glad for that.  He likes my hair down and says he likes this hairdo.  It looks best Moused... but of course... my skin breaks out from mouse... so yah, I think that is the reason for the HUGE zit on my nose and on my cheeks and all over!  I woke up the day after with half of my face bright red... it was just beginning to break out when I awoke and each hour I could feel more and more eruptions coming to my face.  ARGH!  I should have told the gal NO mouse, but I was too polite and just let her fix my hair... cuz I was shopping afterwards and I knew the hair without some help at that moment would not look good walking around.  Hopefully I will find a happy medium... with getting my curly hair to cooperate without adding too much goo and heat styling products.  My hair is dry (curly hair is always dry), and using irons or dryers causes split ends within a few uses. 

Well, that's catching up for now.  I need to work on the checkbook and do some bills.

Warmly, ~Melissa