Hello all.   Here I am with another edition of  "What's For Dinner Tonight"  I didn't post anything yesterday because there was no recipe.  Matthew wanted fish sticks and fries.  Simple enough!!  Gotta love it when hubs makes a meal request and it is that simple huh??

So tonight we are having crockpot chicken pot pie.  This is a yummy recipe that makes the chicken filling inside a crockpot.  Then when ready to eat, you simply spoon it over freshly baked biscuits.  YUMMY!  I love this recipe because you don't have to precook the chicken, and you can make homemade biscuits if you have time, but if not, just pop some canned biscuits in the oven and you are done. 

Here is the link to the recipe:  Crockpot Chicken Pot Pie

I hope you enjoy this recipe friends!!!

Hello dear friends!!!  Today, hubs is taking a day off work to rest up and hopefully get better.  We have all shared this stuffy nose and hacking cough, and it seems it is his turn.  I was hopping and praying he wouldn't get it!!! 

So, to start off his "resting" today, he is outside shoveling the snow fall from the last few days.  LOL  Don't even try to convince him it could wait, or that with his cold he should stay inside.....he simply won't listen!  He is determined to shovel the walkway in front of our house so we can walk to the cars easily.  There isn't any need for me to get my car out today, but he wants it clear, just in case. 

I am sending you all snow-filled blessings today!!!! :)  I had a few comments on my last blog that I could send some of our snow your way....lol....so this is the best I can do.  I am enjoying the fresh white snow outside and oh how we all enjoyed running to the window through out the weekend to see it falling.  I love the white white snow before the road crews come and dirty it up.  LOL  We have had more snow this year than I remember in years past, and normally I would be complaining with most of my friends over the weather and the streets.  But not this year!!!  I don't have a job, and no where to go, so we stay home and enjoy it immensely.  LOL 

I must admit though, I am looking forward to spring and the warmth and sunshine it brings.  I want to get out my capris and light sweaters and sandals again!!  And the green of the trees and the flowers are going to be a welcome sight!!!   So, we are enjoying the moment, and looking forward to more of what God has to offer us!

My energy level is still low.  UGH!  I am antsy and want to clean the house from floor to ceiling, but my energy level, although is getting a bit better, is not allowing me to do so.  Yesterday I cleaned the living and dining rooms and had to take several breaks before the job was done.  It was crazy, and I felt awful before I was done.  Taking a nice hot shower afterwards and loosening up some muscles helped though.  Today, I am hoping to get some cleaning in the kitchen done and the laundry put away and then have time to crawl into my craft closet and find some fabric for the 3 baby quilts I need to finish up.  Sewing sooths me, and crafting in general is my stress reliever.  I love to sew and cross stitch, but I don't know how much concentration I can give it, so we will see.

I hope you all have a wonderful day my friends!!! 

Hey everyone!!  So, I hear there was a big Superbowl game yesterday.  LMSO  We didn't watch it.  We used to watch it a few years ago, when mom was still alive.  She was obsessed.  LMSO  My dad didn't like it much, but my mother....oh my....she would stand up and shake her fist and tell the boys on the field what to do, etc.  It was quite hilarious.  She would pick her winner of choice by what stats they had from previous games.  I would pick my winner of choice on game day by choosing which team had the cutest butts in their uniforms.  LMSO  My team usually won.  We would make all kinds of yummy snacks and laugh at all the commercials.  It's just not the same without mom screaming at the big screen though.  LOL

Hubs had to work a little on Saturday morning, but was home by noon.  The rest of the weekend we spent inside enjoying the snowfall outside.  I still wasn't feeling well, so I did minimal work around the house and Matthew helped me with cooking.  He made us breakfast on Sunday and it was yummo! 

Noah and I read a book about snow yesterday.  He loves being read to, and I am thankful for his love of books and stories.  In the book, the little boy made a snowball and put it in his pocket to play with later, and then went inside the warm house to take his nightly bath and get into bed.  After he was in bed, he remembered the snowball and went to his coat to retrieve it, and it was MISSING!!!  And to top it all off, his pocket was WET!!!  LOL  Noah's eyes opened wide and I took this as a learning experience and told him, we would get some snow from outside and put it in a cup and see what happened.  I told him it would melt and he said, will it turn into water???  I told him yes.  So after reading, I did just that.  Grabbed some snow in a cup and let it melt.  Noah was amazed and I loved seeing that look on his face as he saw the water later.  He even asked if he could drink it.  It was nice clean, freshly fallen snow....so of course I let him.

Noah and I took the time yesterday to make some yummy peanut butter cookies.  Matthew walked in and said, the batter looked good, but need chocolate chips.  LOL  SO we added mini chocolate chips to the batter and oh they were good.  In fact Noah awoke this morning and asked for one for breakfast.  Makes you wonder if he dreamed about them last night or something since it was the first thing out of his mouth this morning.  LOL

It's Monday, and it is snowing here in the midwest (Missouri)....AGAIN!  It has been snowing on and off all weekend.  Noah is home from school because he has my hacking cough, and I didn't think they would have snow anyway since the roads are so extremely slick.  Found out this morning after we got up at 8, that they DID have school.  What nonsense.  They called off school last week when the streets were clear, but today when it is slick and still snowing, they have school.  Ahhhh one more reason I am thinking and praying about homeschool when Noah is in kindergarten!

Well, I am off to clean ladies.  I have laundry from the weekend in the washer and dryer already, and a few dishes to wash up from last night.  Then it is heavy cleaning time for the front room (it gets messy over the weekend since we spend so much time in there).  I am enjoying staying in again today where it is nice and warm!!! 

I am hoping later I will have some time to get out my fabrics and choose the perfect patterns for 3 baby quilts I need to make.  I am so behind on gifts. 

I have been running a list of things I need to finish in my head and I decided today, before adding another thing to it, I need to WRITE IT DOWN!!!! 

1.  Flannel Monkey Pajamas   (This is for a swap, and I was supposed to send it ages ago.  Thankfully my partner is understanding, but I am hoping to get them done ASAP and shipped)

2.  I have a few simple and quick baby quilts I need to make.  I got behind and several friends and relatives have already had their babies and still not received a present from me.  UGH!!!!  I need to make one for Zephaniah and Jackson.  Zeph is 6 months old and Jackson is 1 month old.  LOL  See what I mean by being behind??  I am hoping to get these two done by the end of March.

3.  APRONS!!!  I have some all cut out and ready.  Just need to find the time to get them sewn and finished up. I promised a certain little girl that I would make her one as well. 

4.  Accesssories to Noah's new cowboy western inspiried bedroom.  I have some denim and bandana fabric I plan on making something with.  I am not sure what is needed to finish things up until I see the bed and the bedding all set in place though.  I am going to the scrapbook shop sometime soon as well to look for scrapbooking paper that I can use.   And I have a set of white pillowcases that I am going to embroidery something on for Noah to put on his bed as well.   OH...........and I just bought a pattern for a tee pee.  I am going to make one from denim for Noah's bedroom.  It is made with PVC pipes....so of course that will be hubs part of the project.  Looking forward to showing you all the pics!  Deadline on all of this (except maybe the teepee, we will see how difficult that is to make) is April 19th, Noah's birthday.

5.  Matthew's Christmas stocking.  I will most likely be working on this all year long.  LOL  I get sick of it and put it down, and then pick it back up later. 

6.  Noah's red embroidery quilt.  You may have seen it here before.  I thought it was going to be done by Christmas......and I ended up working on two quilts for my SIL's and a quillow for my neice and ran out of time.  I need to get it done by his birthday in April. 

Now this is by no means my complete list.  I thought I would make a list of the things I want to get done in the next month or so (and I need to make some time to work on the Christmas stocking!), and then I will make a new list for the next few months.

Hubby was talking to me last night over dinner and requested we do another "crockpot meal".  He has uses this term as a meal completely made in the crockpot, which to him must include a meat and two veggies.  He loves meals like steak with baked potatoes and corn on the cob in the crockpot.  I put the steak in the bottom with some water and maybe some bouillon or dry onion soup mix for flavoring, and wrap the corn and potatoes in foil and let it cook.  I also like to pour some BBQ sauce over the meat.  It doesn't touch the veggiees, since they are wrapped up in foil.

Matthew also loves me to do "packet cooking", as we call it.  You can cook just about anything in a aluminum foil packet!!!  (My MIL actually spent good money to buy herself a cookbook for this after talking to me about it.)  Place a portion or meat and veggies into a foil square and add water, broth or butter for moistness and added seasonings and cook in the oven or the crockpot.  If I am baking a cake or using the oven in some other fashion, I will pop these onto a cookie sheet and bake in the oven.  If not, I put them all in the crockpot.    This is nice for portion control too, since there is one packet for each person eating.

So tonight.......it's........................................crockpot packet cooking.  The best of both worlds.  Using the crockpot means I don't have to stand over the stove, and packet cooking means even easier clean up!!  YEAH!!!  (By the way, I don't buy those shower cap type crockpot liners.  My SIL tried it once, and the liner melted with the food.  ICK!)

I am thinking chicken with BBQ sauce, corn on the cob, baked potatoes, and some glazed carrots.  The chicken and sauce will be the only items not in a foil packet.   Wish me luck.  LMSO

I am a woman, and therefore it is in my nature to CHANGE MY MIND!!!!!  OFTEN!!!  LMSO  I decided against the monkey theme for Noah's bedroom and have switched gears a little.  The new theme for his bedroom is COWBOY WESTERN!  I found some really cute bedding online, and I have some fabric and items here on hand that I will use to finish up the look.  The book for the monkey quilt came in the other day, and I am still planning on making one.....just not a queen sized one.  LMSO   We are on a pretty tight budget, so I am trying to see just how cheaply I can do the bedroom makeover.  So far, I have spent $103.89 on the bedding (quilt, 2 shams, and a dust ruffle).  I think I will take pics as I go along and then show everyone the before and afters later.

 Noah is having a blast today playing educational computer games.  Matthew had a customer that didn't need his old computer tower, an extra monitor, keyboard and mouse and built Noah a computer with all the pieces and parts.  It is super slow and wouldn't do anything we needed it to do, but it is perfect to play Noah's games on, and practice spelling and do his digital painting on.  He loves it!!!  It isn't hooked up to internet, and has been wiped clean of anything but his 4 games.  So he can't possible screw anything up on it.  He was so excited and has been glued to the screen for a while.  I know after the new wears off he will play games and puzzles and cars, etc. more.  LOL

I spoke to Matthew last night about the Chinese dinner and Kung Fu Panda themed birthday party and he loves the idea.  He and Noah know that movie front and back, so of I think Matthew will have just as much fun with this as Noah will.  LOL  It's nice to have a hubby who is a child at heart, ya know??? 

Matthew is working a little for a electrical customer today.  He is hoping to be done around lunch time to spend time with the family though.  He came home early again yesterday which was a nice extra few hours with him as well.  He has 4 days of vacation to use up before the new fiscal year with his company which is April 1st.   At this point it looks like he will be using it, not to spend with family, but to finish up a decent paying electrical job.  :(

Leftovers for lunch (we had salisbury steaks with gravy, mashed potatoes and corn last night and there are leftovers), and for dinner tonight........crock pot cooking yet again.  I do love my crockpot and it certainly has been used the last week while I have been under the weather!!!  So, tune into my next post to see..............What's for Dinner Tonight!!!

We awoke this morning to a gorgeous blanket of snow covering the ground outside.  Only a few inches so far have fallen, but it is huge flakes and falling fast, so we will see how much there is when this all stops.   My SIL, Michele says in VA where she lives they are saying 20-28 inches of snow.  I can't even imagine.  I doubt they will get that much, but just the thought of it has her on edge.

I am hungry for Chinese.  LMSO  I don't know why either.  But the thought of Chinese got me thinking about one of Noah and Matthew's favorite movies: Kung Fu Panda.  LOL  When the snow was covering our satellilte this morning and we weren't getting any reception, Noah requested this movie.  LMSO  About 5 minutes later the satellite was fine and he was able to watch his favorite show.  

But it got me thinking about Noah's birthday (which I like to start saving for and planning early....kinda like Christmas. LMSO) and how he would love a Kung Fu Panda birthday.  Now, we don't usually go all out with tons of decorations, etc. etc.  But I do buy the fancy napkins and plates and invites each year and Noah as one of his gifts, gets a tshirt or outfit that goes with the theme of his party each year.  So I started looking online at my favorite online store for invites, etc.  They are on clearance!!!  All King Fu panda themed items!!  YEAH!!  So when Matthew gets his next paycheck on the 15th, I am going to go ahead and order them.

And then I started thinking.....I think we will have the family over for CHINESE as well!!!  I love to cook and eat it, and the family would love it as well.  So I think we will make a dinner out of it, and then decorated cake or cupcakes afterwards!!  Noah loves chinese and eats it well, too.  I can pick up chopsticks and fortune cookies at the local chinese resturant.  No biggie.   (BTW, his birthday isn't until April.  LOL And I already know what we are going to buy, make, plan, cook, etc.)

My cold is getting....well......it's the same I suppose.  My voice is changing a little.  I no longer sound like Phobe when she had the cold and sang "Smelly Cat" on Friends.  Now I sound like a teenager going through puberty.  It's great.  LMSO  Hubs says it sounds sexy...NOT!  I am taking meds at night for the coughing and it should knock me out and help me sleep.  But it isn't.  So I end up coughing and hacking and tossing adn turning all night long and sucking on a cough drop about 15 times in the middle of the night (slurp slurp) and keeping hubs awake.  Bless his heart.  He hasn't complained once, but I know he can't sleep much better with me like that.  LOL

Hubs and I spoke last night and we have a large decision to make coming up soon.  I don't want to go into it right  now, but it has to do with just about every aspect of our lives as we see them now. I can see the good points and the bad from this decision and neither of us right now know what to do.  Of course we are praying for God's direction and help on this decision.  We want to only do what God wants us to do.  So, if you find the time, please pray for hubs and I to make the best decision on this and to stay in God's will.

Tonight for supper:  Salisbury Steak, Mashed poatoes and buttered corn.

I still don't have much energy and I am so glad hubs has been understanding about it.  I have been using up things in the fridge and freezer, using some convenience foods already in the house, taking short cuts, etc. this week on meals.  Last night he came home and I had NOTHING for supper ready.  UGH!  I was slacking bad girls.  So he made potato soup for me.  It is my comfort food, and he makes it well.  It was yummy!

This recipe is one of my hubby's favorites.  It came from my mom's best friend Jeannie.  So when I say we are having Jeannie's Sausage Bean Chowder, he knows exactly the one I am talking about.    Jeannie died a few years ago, so when we eat this soup, it is a wonderful memory of what a loving sweet Christian lady she was.  Oh how I miss her, and my parents.  It's comforting to know they are all in heaven together.

Jeannie's Sausage Bean Chowder

(serves 6)

2 lbs sausage, cooked and drained

2 cans (16 oz each) pinto beans

46 oz. can tomato juice

4-5 diced potatoes

1/2 to 1 cup diced onion

1/2 green pepper, diced

1 Bay leaf

1/2 tsp each: thyme and garlic salt

1 1/2 tsp Lowrey's seasoning salt.

Combine all ingredients, and simmer for 2 hours or until potatoes are done.  Remove Bay leaf before serving.

Amy's options:  I don't like Thyme.....I think it tastes like weeds.  LMSO  So I omit it and add Italian seasonings instead. 

Jeannie always served this over Fritos corn chips, but we like ours just plain with a piece of fresh bread on the side. 

I don't really have a recipe to share.  It is just two items tossed in a pan.  LMSO

Recently I was looking at some ground turkey (Jennie O) and beside it was an off brand that was MUCH cheaper.  Some was flavored with taco seasoning, and some Italian.  It was $1 per pound instead of the $2.28 per pound for the plain Jennie-O ground turkey.  So I bought a few rolls (pounds) of each flavor and froze them for later use. 

Today I was in the mood for tacos.  So I thawed the seasoned turkey and browned it, and added a can (drained and rinsed) of pinto beans in it.  The spices were yummy on the turkey and beans alike.  I could have added some diced tomatoes, but I was feeling lazy.  LOL  I have a migraine and I have been hacking and coughing, so I am not into gourmet dinners that take a while to prepare tonight!!!

I spooned some on a flour tortilla, added some shredded cheese and some sour cream and chowed down.  It was YUMMMY.  And yes, it is only 4:35pm and I have already eaten supper, ok??? So sue me!!!  I hadn't eaten much today and all of a sudden thought, maybe that was what caused my migraine.  LOL  So, my tummy is full, and my headache is feeling better.

Hubs is working late tonight, so he can walk in tonight and heat up the stuff and make himself a hard or soft shell taco for himself.  I am not sure what he will think of the beans though.  He is kinda weird and old fashioned about things like that.  LOL  Maybe he will be ok since I didn't put rice in it though.  (Although that is sounding good to me, too)

Hoping tomorrow to feel better and share a "real" recipe with you!!!

I had a phone call today from a "friend" who decided today was the day to tell me her opinion on the Haiti Relief situation.  She told me she heard they are re-recording the song "We are the World" (Evidentially it is the 25th anniversary of the song.  WOW. That makes me feel old. LMSO) and the proceeds are going to Haitie Relief.  AWESOME.  Well "C" feels differently.  I should have known.  Sometimes I honestly wonder about her brain and whether the drugs she did in her teens and twenties really fried her brain more than I had once thought.

She said, "Well what about all the kids and the homeless in America!!  Why aren't the American's helping their own???? But they have to help others like Haiti!!!!"  Let me tell you girls....I about lost it.  I must admit ladies, I silently prayed for God's guidance in what to say and for him to control my tongue.  Because I know I would have belted out things that might have seriously hurt her if I was allowed to do so.

I replied, well, if you really want to know, I will tell you.......in the US, American's and even those with aren't citizens have more rights, and more care than those in Haiti.  I told her if you are in America and have no food or are homeless, then there are more than enough places and government financed places you can go to ask for help and a hand out.  She said,  "If it wasn't for my daughter, I wouldn't be given housing or food stamps from DFS (Division of Family Services)!!  Did you know that Amy???  I would be living on the street if I didn't have my daughter!"

My answer:  "Well C, that is because you made some stupid decisions in your past like marijuana and meh and who knows what other drugs.  You had had fun on the drugs, and now you pay for the consequences of it"  (BTW, I wasn't trying to be super rude here, but she herself told me she is not eligible for housing or food stamps in the state of Missouri because she had a drug charge on her record.  In our state, they don't reward you later with food and shelter for this behavior)

I continued to say:  "In the US if you aren't living in a shelter of some kind, or don't have food stamps, and arent' going a soup kitchen, etc. it is because you can't like in your case, or you are too **** lazy and have too much pride to ask for help.  In our city alone, we have several organizations that will help that are goverment funded, or churches that will help out.  If you are homeless and have no food in this town it is because you want to be.  Think about it "C", Haiti doesn't have those kind of organizations and help!!  They dont' have shelters and food stamps to fall back on.  Churches are hurting there, the orphanages are full to the brim with kids, there is little to no food there, fuel is scarce, and there is NO ONE TO HELP THEM!!!"

Needless to say, she wasn't too happy with my answer, but I don't care.  So many American's want to whine and complain about what they don't have instead of rejoicing and thanking God for living in a country that is FREE and provides!!!  You don't go to jail in the US for your religious beliefs!  In the US it is COMMON to have at least 2 cars per family, while other's have none. 

Have you EVER gone hungry??? I mean truly hungry where your stsomache hurt for days???  I can say I haven't!!!  I might not have eaten gourmet, and might have craved something different, but I have NEVER gone hungry.  Have you ever slept out in the street because you were homeless????  I can honestly say I have not.  We have SO MUCH here in America, and we should help those who do not have.  But evidentially there are many out there who are like "C" and think the government should take care of them and pay them to live in this glorious nation.

"C" is on food stamps (her daughter gets them, not her), and gets housing as well (she is aloted a certain amount of money a month for a 2 bedroom apartment.  She pays only about $100 for her apartment).  Because she is no longer living with her child's father, she gets child support.  She doesn't work because she doesn't want to, although she blames it on her disability. She however won't file for disability because she says they wouldn't give it to her anyway, so why try.  She uses the money she does get for nonsense, convenience foods and high priced food items and then whines cause she doesn't have any money left over at the end of the month.  She doesn't have a car, or a driver's lisence (because she had 2 DWI's and had it taken away and couldn't get it back for over 10 years per the courts) and whines and complains that people don't want to take her to the store, or take her child to school in the mornings and pick her up in the evenings.   She is getting ready to move into another apartment and doesn't have the money for the 1st month deposit and 1st months rent.  So she calls every church and organization around here asking and begging for money, when just a few months ago, she had $700 cash in her pocket.  She will eventually find a few that will give her the money.  She always does.

She has alot more than some.....more than I think the organizations should give her, and yet she complains 24/7.

So, my donation went to HAITI this last month.....not to the US.  I continue to get updates from the missionaries in our church who are in Haiti and continue to pray for them and send them our support when we can.  I won't give "C" a dime.  She isn't thankful, and all she does is suck money from people and then behind their backs, she whines to me about it.  UGH!!  I pray for her.....I honestly do ladies.  I pray that the negative Spirit within her fades out and that her relationship with God would be stronger and stronger..........but it has been 6 months, and she has become increasingly WORSE.  When one issue takes care of itself, she finds 3 more to whine about.

I saw this on someone else's blog and thought it looked fun.  So, here is my list. 

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band  : Does singing count???
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disney World
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community  (it's only 13 miles away)
36. Taught yourself a new language -Does pig latin or baby talk count?? LMSO
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been inside an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp 
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

I apologize for not posting our menu and recipes over the weekend.  It was so busy and we had company over the weekend, so I wasn't on the computer much at all.   I didn't have much to post anyway honestly.  Matthew's sister came over with her daughter Mindi, and we all had a great visit and watched a movie.  She came by at 2 and at 5:30, she overed to buy pizza and have it delivered.  I suggested Chinese and volunteered Matthew to pick it up, too.  LMSO  SO we had Chinese takeout for supper and ate the leftovers again on Sunday.  YUMMY!!!

Tonight we are having a simple but yummy supper!!!  It's one of my favorites and reminds me of my mom so much.  She used to make pork loin or pork roast with lots of yummy vegetables and cook them all day in the stove until the roast practically fell apart.  I use the crockpot instead though.  So,without an "offical recipe", I will tell you how we fix it.

1 pork loin or pork roast 

potatoes and carrots, peeled and cut in half

chicken broth, or bouillon with some water

onion soup mix

I put the pork roast, dry onion soup mix and some broth in it early in the morning and let it cook all day long.  A few hours before supper, I will put in the pototates and carrots.  EASY! 

Well, it was Friday and Noah's non-school day, so I was cleaning up a storm in the house, and Noah was helping a little and playing a little when hubs walked through the door.  WOW I said, what are you doing home so early.  He said he was taking a half day off (paid..thankfully).  YES!!  So the weekend was able to start off a little early.  How lovely.  Supper was int he crockpot and I decided since hubby was home early, I would stop my cleaning duties a little early to spend time with him as well.

Until......................it started getting chilly in the house.  Hubs checked the thermostat, and it was dropping fast.  UH OH he said.  It is 68 degrees in the house and dropping fast.  He went downstairs to "reset" the furnace at the switch and waited for that to fix it as it had in the past.  NOTHING!  So Matthew quickly called his friend Barry who works on furnaces.  He was sweet enough to say, I will be over in a few minutes.  Well, they decided it needed a new electrical board and to buy a new one was $150 or more.  OUCH!

Barry left the house, and told us to bundle up, and get out some heaters but he was going to try his best to figure something out.  I was still sitting in my chair with my jaw dropped to my chest when he walked back in the door and said, "Look what I found in the back of the truck", and handed the electrical board to my hubby.  WHAT???  I mean I know God is good ladies, but this was amazing.  He hadn't been out of the house but 2 minutes and walked back in with the part we needed.  We all three praised God for this.  They both double checked the numbers and found out the board that Barry had taken out of a furnace earlier in the week from someone else's furnace was going to fit ours.  It was still in working condition or had been when he took it out.  So they installed it and I heard the furnace kick in!!!  Or, at least I thought I did.  No...the blower was working again.....but the furnace was not heating.  UGH!

The boys came upstairs and looked at the thermostat then.  They changed the batterries, and pushed a few buttons and it came on.  Barry said, maybe you have a defective thermostat as well.  UGH, it is only a month old and we like it because it is programmable!  Barry said to keep an eye on it and call him with anymore problems and went home to his lovely wife for dinner.

That evening at about bedtime, it got chilly again.  UH OH!!!  Matthew went to check the thermostat and for some reason it wasn't kicking in because it was at this time, reading 75 degrees in the house.  It would never kick in because it thought it was too warm in the house already!!  Matthew unplugged it and let it "cool down" by putting it in a cool corner of the room.  When the temp on it had dropped to 68, he took it in the bedroom and took the thing apart and reset the hardwiring in it (nice to have a hubby who knows these things about electrical items huh).  He put it back on the wall.............................and ladies, we have had no problem since.

Since Barry is a family friend and a nice man (also a Christian, which we knew before he came over), he didn't charge us for the 3 hours he was at our house.  Since the part he replaced was used, but still in working condition, he didn't charge us.  And Matthew was able to salvage the thermometer by resetting it, so we didn't have to buy a new one.  Isn't God good????  I mean truly...........He is AMAZING!

I am starting EARLY again this year in hopes that all my homemade items will be done and ready to gift by Christmas this year.  Ok, so I failed miserably lasty BIG HEAD and thought I could make a quilt for everyone on my list for Christmas.  NOT!!  I ended up making two lap quilts for my sister in laws (Matthew's sisters), and a quillow for my 6 year old neice.  They were thrilled with their presents!!  This year, I am working on a few more quilts, some cross stitching, a few aprons, etc. 

Here is the first thing I started on this year.  It is a cross stitched stocking for my hubs.  My Auntie Barb made a homemade one for all her grandchildren when they were born and made Noah one (even though he is a great nephew) as well.  She was starting on my mom's (because she and my mom were so close), but mom died before she finished it.  So she ended up putting my name on it and  giving it to me the year my mom died and put  on the top of if it tiny letters, "In memory of Rita".  Oh how I cried when I saw it.  Well, to make a long story short........she didn't make Matthew one.  And she has been sick so much lately and I am not sure she will get to it.  So I am making one for Matthew in "manly fashion"  LOL

Here is a photo of me and Noah with our Christmas Stockings on Christmas 2009 (please ignore the bed head):

And here is a link to a stock photo of Matthew's new stocking:  http://www.ineedlework.com/8681.html

 (And no I didn't pay that price for it.  I bought it on Ebay for less than $20.00!  LMSO)

The funny thing is, this is the photo that was on the kit that I received as well, and hubs actually asked me in all seriousness, "You aren't putting 'Samuel' on it are you???  I mean you will put MY name on it won't you???"   LMSO  NO dear, I thought I would put someone else's name on it.

A few days later, Matthew's sister, Melanie was over and asked what I was working on.  So I showed her the package with stock photo.  And with the most serious look and voice, she asked, "Except the one you are making will have 'Matthew' on it, right???"  I busted out laughing.   Yes Melanie, I will be sure to put Matthew's name on it.  I continued to laugh and then she busted out laughing as well realizing how silly that was.  I told her how her brother had made the a similar statement when he saw it, and we both laughed again.  She told me it must run in the family.  LOL  I think she is right!!

Well ladies,as promised, I am starting up my "What's For Dinner Tonight Blog Series" again.  I love sharing our families favorite recipes with you and sometimes the story behind the recipes if I have time.  Most of my meals are quick and simple, and "down home" recipes with the weird ingredients. 

Alot of my meals are made in the crockpot, and I love to make short cuts like cooking some of my hamburger with onions and then freezing it in portion sizes in freezer ziploc bags.  I do the same with chicken too.

This recipe came from a sorority friend, Jerri.  We all met at her house for appetizers and a Christmas celebration MANY years ago, and she had these in the crockpot.  That night she had to write out the recipe about a dozen times for all of us girl.  Since then, I have shared it with many, and every one who I have ever made these for have gushed over them and asked for the recipe.  OK, except for my brother Chris....he didn't like them....but he honestly is a weirdo.  LMSO 

Anyway, without further ado...........here is the link to my recipe: Sweet and Sour Meatballs

I have  a highschool friend who, bless her heart, can't boil water.  OK, maybe it isn't THAT bad.  But almost.  She used to call me and ask the silliest questions about cooking.  I didn't laugh at her.....just shook my head and gave her the answers needed.  But eventually, as I learned soon, I became the "KItchen Helper Hotline".  LOL  She started taking advantage of my generosity and calling me at all hours of the day and night asking me silly questions, would hang up and then call back 2 minutes later asking another question.  I don't mind helping out, but if you can't follow a recipe, you are in SAD shape girl.

So I ended up taking one of those index card notebooks, you know the ones that have a spiral in them, and took the time to go through my arsenol of recipes and picked out the easiest, simplest and best recipes of the bunch.  I wrote down family favorites in the main dish, dessert and cookies area for her.  Mostly "down home" cooking recipes.  To me that means, no weird ingredients.  LMSO 

She still calls me, but not as often.  In fact she called me at 7pm the other night (My child is in bed at that time, but evidentially she was just starting supper) to tell me she was making meatballs, but OH NO!!!  She forgot to put the milk in the meatballs, and asked me panicing, will they be ok???  Rolling my eyes, I said, yes they will be just fine.  She apologized for taking my time and said goodbye.  It wasn't 2 minutes later that the phone rang and my did hubby bristle up when it rang.  She asked me what I usually serve with my meatballs, and when I told her she asked me, "Would it be ok with macaroni and cheese then???"  I am sorry ladies, but I seriously did get irritated this time and replied, "I don't care what side dishes you have with it, I am not eating it!"  She said, "Well I don't think it would be good with macaroni and cheese."  I said, "Then make something else, I have to go and I am taking the phone off the hook for the night since Matthew and I are trying to have some family time together now." 

Now, please don't think I was "too rude".  She has been told MULTIPLE times before that when hubs is home, my attention is on him and our son, Noah and to please not call me just to chat, but only if it is an EMERGENCY!!!  She has been told at least 2 dozen times, and continues to ignore the request.  Evidentially it was a meatball emergency!  LOL

I have a friend here on HSB who asks me for recipes on occassion as she sees them on my menu plan, and asks me questions.......and I just want to say THIS DOESN"T BOTHER ME AT ALL OK????  I can answer the messages at my leisure and I certainly don't mind sharing recipes with everyone here at HSB.  But please don't call me after 5 and call me back every 2 minutes asking me what side dishes to serve ok??? LOL

I just had a request for my chulpas recipe from tamic (HEY TAMI), and I was more than happy to post it for her.  And it got me to thinking.....I used to post every day what I was making, with the recipe included.  I enjoyed doing it but it got to be bothersome and I just stopped.  LOL   But I think I will start it up again, starting.............TOMORROW.  So those of you who opened this up hoping you would get a recipe...........SORRY!  LOL

Tune in tomorrow for one of our family's favorites.  You might have seen the recipe here before if you have read my blog, because we try to make it often and I have friends who ask me every time for the recipe when it is on my menu planner.  YUMMY!!  But I am not going to tell you what it is today....you will have to wait till tomorrow.

So, Tami:  Get your index cards ready.  I am going to give you some of our families yummy special recipes.  And BTW, they are all super quick and easy!!!

I found a recipe for rice and beans and a recipe for chalupas and well....on an accident, I mixed up the two.  But suprisingly enough, it turned out yummy and I really enjoyed it!!! 

Crockpot Chalupas

1 can each: black beans and pinto beans

1-2 lb pork loin

1 cup rice

14.5 oz. diced tomatoes with green chilies added (do not drain)

1 tsp. Italian seasoning

1/2 T dried onion

1tsp minced garlic

1/2 tsp cumin

You can add chili powder too if you want.

I dumped in all in a crockpot and cooked it on high till the meat was done.  I pulled it out and shredded it, added it back to the rest of the ingredients and served it over tortillas with cheese and other toppings.

I've been trying to make a decision for some time about bedding in Noah's room.  He has been sleeping in his toddler bed until now.  He is so tiny, so no he hasn't outgrown it, and he feels comfortable in it.  But recently hubby and I have talked about moving him into a "big boy bed".  Now for some that might mean a twin sized bed, but since we have an extra queen sized bed already, we decided not to purchase a twin sized bed and just move him into it.  (I did the same thing when I was little)

So for a few weeks now, I have been looking a quilts, comforters, beds in a bag, etc. for an almost 4 year old.  They are literally non-existant in a queen size though.  There are many in twin, sevevral in full, but almost nothing in queen.  WHAT TO DO????

And then I remembered a friend of mine (who I met online) who makes patterns (for just about everything, and let me tell you they are as cute as can be).  She has been published in two different  books.  I especially remember a simple little quilt with monkeys on it.  SO CUTE.  Well  went to her flickr page and found out she finally got the pattern published!!  YIPEEE!!  (I fell in love with the pattern over a year ago).  So I looked up the book on half.com and was able to buy it for about $13.00 with tax. 

Click on this link to see her flickr pages and the "Monkey Business" quilt.  (BTW, I also have the monkey in the picture she has with her quilt.  It is so cute)  I was browsing through her flickr pages and Noah saw the monkey quilt and without me saying a word said, I want that for my bed!!  How cute is that!  And i have found some other cute and inexpensive ideas for his bedroom as well.

Oh, I almost forgot.....here is the link:  http://www.flickr.com/search/ss=2&w=75151988@N00&q=monkey+quilt&m=text