Hickory Springs Farm

A song stuck in my head & new school books

There's greenbeans in the garden,

Clean clothes on the line,

There's little ole' barefoot children playing beneath the grapvine.

The sun is shining bright

And the creeks a' bubblin' too

We've got alot to be thankful for

And Lord I want to thank you.

Today is another hot one here on the little bitty homestead.  I do have my dryer running but it's just to dry the undergarmets.  The towels & the rest are out on the clothesline. 

My husband & son are gone fishing and Abigail is still sleeping.  So even though it's a little after 9:00 it is very quiet here. 

I got my package from Rainbow Resource in the mail yesterday.  It feels like a holiday when those crisp, clean schoolbooks arrive....To me anyway.  Abigail came running in from outside yesterday evening with the package the UPS just delivered.  Here was our conversation:

A- "Mama, mama, we got a package & it's got your name on it."

M- "Oh great it's from Rainbow Resource."

A- "What is that?  Is there anything for me in there?"

M- "Yes a few things & a couple for your brother."

A opens package up and pulls out a couple of books.

A-" Are these school books?"

M- "Yes aren't they neat.  Come look at this one for you all about animals."

A- looks at cover & looks back up at me not too happy.

A-"Next time can you please order something useful."

M-

Hope everyone has a good 4th of July.

A Morning Walk

whew..............

ANother mad running day here. We made it to one library to get my card barcoded (state thing). I did happen to ask the lady if she knew of a thrift store other than Goodwill (Sorry, just not a fan). Sure enuf, basically right across the street is one! AND I found Mat camo pants (he needed something to get trashed paintballing at church camp) and Wed happens to be spin the wheel and get % off so I walked out w/2 pair of pants (JOey wanted some camos and they had his size) for $2.40!!!! Then we go to the other branch cuz that's where the playaways are. WRONG! So BACK across town the 1st library (thanked the lady who told me) and check out and set off hte alarm. HUH? Go back and you aren't supposed to take the plastic cases. Really? Cuz the other library let me. So while they were bad-mouthing the other branch (I bit my tongue HARD since it was THEIR branch who told me that most of the playaways were at hte other branch to begin with!), I asked if I needed to bring in the one we already got.  Yes. SHeesh! All of that for some free stuff!LOL I supposedly can now d/l books on my MP3 tho so as long as that works, I'm going to get over this entire fiasco.

Then to Rally's for their .69 hotdogs/cheeseburgers/shakes. Then to the free math program. I managed to get a Wii charger for $16 (and I fixed the Wii this am!!!!!!!!!) so those are charging and I get my rechargable batteries back! I also wondered thru Target since I had time to kill. Found a cute top that will match those orange wedges I had to buy for the Father's Day speech (Hopefully DH doesn't catch on to this!LOL). Next week, I'm goign to TJ Maxx.

I picked the boys up adn off to the cultural center w/the free passes from the library. They had a cool animal exhibit and still had the canning one that I love. I totally forgot to get our probiotics, but oh well. We get home, unload, reload f0r baseball and soccer and headout. I drop Joey off and get about 1/2 way to tennis when the instructor called to cancel. I was a bit torqued cuz the weather is SO NICE and we'll reschedule is wretched heat. Plus I had to go to town anyway to return the cultural passes and get a book on reserve. So back to get JOey and DH had made the taco meat so we did get to eat.

Now I get to pick up stuff and get ready to mop and vacuum and do all the laundry, get my goat share, and pack to leave tomorrow night.

I'm tired just thinking of all of this........

Pickles, pickles, pickles

I started early this morning due to the heat.  I got 16 pints of dill pickles canned & made a double batch of the refrigerator pickles & put those in the fridge. 

We are watching my niece (the 2 year old one) today.  She was apprehensive about our swimming pool the last time she stayed.  However today I put on my suit and got in with her.  She LOVED it.  I'm watching her again on Friday & then next week too so I'm going to get some floaties and things to play on.  Our dog Carly (Should have been named "Dog that chews everything to bits") Has squeezed on the pool deck and popped every float we have. 

Well, I have a little while until she wakes up from her nap so I think I'm going to get a couple things done. ~Take care

Happy Canada Day

Beating the heat with a different kind of popsicle

I got this from my Living on a Dime (linked) newsletter today and thought I'd share it. Any way of beating the heat is a good thing.

For non-traditional popsicles:

• Freeze applesauce in popsicle molds.
  
  
• Mix fruit or jam into yogurt. Freeze in small, snack sized Ziploc bags for frozen yogurt on the go. Cut a hole in the end of the bag for easy access/eating.
  
  
• Mix gelatin and freeze. Add gummie fish or worms before freezing for added fun.
  
  
• Freeze syrup from canned fruit.
  
  
• Add food coloring or sprinkles to yogurt or softened ice cream for added pizzazz. Then freeze in popsicle molds.
  
  
• When you have leftover jam or jelly, put 1/4 cup of hot water in the jar and shake well. Pour into popsicle molds and freeze.
  
  
• If jelly or jam doesn't set up well, use for popsicles or add more water, boil and make syrup.
  
  
• Make a batch of pudding. Add coconut, nuts, marshmallows, crushed cookies or sprinkles if desired. Pour into molds. Freeze several hours until firm.
  
  
• Stick a toothpick in the center of blackberries, strawberries, raspberries or sliced bananas.
  Dip in chocolate if desired. Freeze on a tray. Once frozen, store in freezer bags.
  
  
• For easy snow cones, freeze orange juice (or any other flavored juice) in ice cube trays. Store frozen juice cubes in a plastic bag. Blend 5 cubes in the blender until they have a shaved ice consistency. The shaved ice will keep its consistency if kept frozen in a container.
  
  
• For watermelon popsicles, blend one cup each watermelon chunks (seeds removed), orange juice and water. Blend well. Then pour and freeze into molds.
  
  
• For strawberry popsicles, blend 2 cups strawberries, 1 cup vanilla ice cream or yogurt, 4 cups orange juice and 2 tablespoons sugar. Blend smooth. Pour into molds and freeze.
  
  
• For banana popsicles, dissolve one 3 oz. package strawberry gelatin with one cup boiling water. In a blender, mix gelatin, 1 banana and 1 cup yogurt or ice cream. Blend well and pour into molds.

Fill in the blanks

Refrigerator Pickles

I had about 10 cucumbers to use up & made this small batch of refrigerator pickles.  They were really simple to make & taste great.  Not too sweet & not too sour.

1 cup sliced onions

1 cup sliced bell peppers and/or banana peppers (I used both)

6 cups sliced cucumbers

1 cup white vinegar

1 cup sugar

1 T. salt

Put sliced veggies in a big bowl.  Then put the sugar, vinegar & salt in a sauce pan.  Heat on low until sugar is dissolved.  Pour over vegetables & stir.  Place in jars or containers.  Cover & put in fridge.

These are to put in refrigerator.

yardwork.......

999 and this one

I would  however like to say  a big THANK YOU to each and every one of you who have come to visit my blog throughout these last three years. That is what has kept me blogging and finding 999 things to say. Please continue to visit me here, because who knows,  I may have something to say soon, .
   Have a blessed day!