Forget-Me-Not Homestead

The Day After Dinner: Not What You Would Expect

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my family yesterday.  It was hosted by my brother and SIL, so she did alot of cooking and everyone brought a dish.  Needless to say, I was thrilled I didn't have to cook for all the people that were there, approximately 35!  The house was crowded, and when our Noah walked in and saw everyone, he turned around and walked right back out. LMSO  He was a little overwhelemed with everyone wanting to say hello to him, and was very clingy at first.  But after dinner, everyone cleaned up and the gang spreads out in the basement (the men who watch the football game on the big screen, which usually turns into the men who fall asleep in the recliners. LOL), the kids on the main floor playing Wii and the women in the dining and kitchen area talking and laughibng, some of the littlier kids playing outside on toys or in the sand, or at the table in the sunroom playing with playdough, and a few upstairs playing computer games.  By then Noah found some toys and was making himself at home and visiting with everyone!!

Today, I am making one of hubby's all time favorite meals.  What he doesn't know is that I love making this meal because it is so darn easy!!!  LMSO  We call is Cheesy Potatoes and Ham.  I put one bag of shredded potatoes in the crockpot with 2 cans of cheddar cheese soup and 1 can of milk and stir.  I add chunks of thick sliced ham and let it cook.  I some back every once in a while and stir it, but that is basically it! LMSO  SOOOO easy!  Tonight about supper time, I will pop some crescent rolls into the oven and some peas on the stovetop and we will be done!! TA-DA as Noah would say.

I am making a super easy dinner tonight because I am cleaning today and tomorrow and cooking in the evenings getting ready for hubby's family Thanksgiving celebration this Sunday.  They will be coming to our house (thank goodness....if you have read my blogs any, you know I don't like their messy house and refuse to eat my MIL's cooking due to the uncleanliness and lack of cooking abilities the lady has) and I will be cooking everything.  Matthew's sister asked last night if there was anything she could bring and I said sure, bring some pop and a small bag of ice! LOL  We rarely ever have pop in the house, but his family drinks it constantly.  It is simply something we don't buy and I won't spend money on, so this way she can pick out the flavors her family drinks and I figure before the day is over, we will definately need more ice for drinks.

Tonight (after hubby gets home with a few crucial ingredients from the store.  He is working today, so the house is nice and quiet.  LOL  I can't seem to get my cleaning done when he is here!  Are any of you like that?) I will make the spinach dip and cheeseball and refrigerate.  And sometime today or this evening I plan on making pecan pie muffins (I chate pecan pie, but I adore these muffns!!! YUMMY! ), a bundt cake and a plain cheesecake (toppings will be available). 

Tomorrow will be a day to clean the rooms I didn't get cleaned up today  (LOL), and to prep things for Sunday morning to be popped in the oven.  I will prep some little smokies (we wrap them in bacon, and put them in the crockpot with a little water in the bottom and sprinkle brown sugar over it all....they are delicious!!!!!!!! Addictive!!!), and sweet and sour meatballs (along with the dip and cheeseball and crackers will be appetizers).  Then I will put a pork loin and vegetables in another crockpot.  I also plan on making green been casserole, stuffing, seven layer salad, and hot rolls, several of which I can bake off and reheat or at least prep on Saturday.

For desserts we will have a chocolate cheesecake, a regular cheesecake, the bundt cake, a pumpkin dessert thingy (crockpot), and of course I will eat the pecan pie muffins as a dessert!  LMSO

Sounds yummy doesn't it??? Of course I am making WAY too much food.  But that's ok, because some can be eaten for leftovers on Monday and Tuesday.  Other things will be frozen for a leftover night later on in the following week.  None will go to waste!!!  (Hope it doesn't go to waist either!!)

I was very careful yesterday not to overeat (becky helped by grabbing my fork and pushing the pumpkin roll away as I was practicially drooling on it wanting a second piece! LOL), and I will do my best to do the same on Sunday!!!  So far, since the whole diet thing started, I have lost 22 pounds (took a month off to not push myself so much in October, and I am glad I did!!), and I don't plan on gaining any during the holidays!!!

More Crafty Goodness: A Small Fabric Dollhouse

Hello all.  I have been at it again.  Crafting and sewing up a storm.  LOL  These following things are for a swap in which we craft or sew things for each other's children.  I was so excited to see the tutorial for the dollhouse on my partner's wish list that I decided to make her one as well as one for my neice for Christmas.  The felt items were also on her wish list, one for each child. 

So, here are the pics!!

These are the three felted notebook covers and pencil pouches she requested. 

And here are some pics of the fabric doll house I made for her little girl!!  This is the front of the house with a front door (and a bluebird above it), and window made from felt added on.  The red on the top is the ribbon handles.

Here is the side of the house.  As you can tell it closes with loops (made from small hair ties) and buttons. 

Here is a picture of the house opened up to see the inside.  The green portion is to resemble the garden outside.  How cute huh???

And another pic of the whole house!!! 

Interested in making a fabric dollhouse for a sweet little girl in your family??? Here is the online tutorial I used. http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2008/08/fabric_dollhouse_tutorial.html?CMP=OTC-5JF307375954     In some areas it was a little hard to understand what she was talking about, but I can honestly say I muddled through.  If anyone is interested in making it, and gets confused, please feel free to message me and I can see if I can help!!!

I seriously want to be a littl girl so I can make myself one to play with. LMSO

The Post-Thanksgiving Lull...

Thanksgiving is over and not only was it a day to be thankful, but I am thankful for how it went.  In this cold but sunny day, I am so grateful with how the Lord answered my prayers and calmed some odd family dynamics.

I awoke between 7-7:30a.m. and got a batch of fresh herb bread dough going and then prepared and set the turkey to baking.  As my family woke and after they had quick breakfasts of cereal, I set them to working!  lol  All the last-minute dusting, sweeping and toilet cleaning for my mom's inspection - er, uh - I mean, everyone's comfort and enjoyment!    

But we had a great day.  Some friends of ours who have to drive past our home to have their Thanksgiving at some relative's who live 1/2 hour past us came and visited us for about an hour.  I enjoy talking to friends while I cook, it makes the time go faster and more pleasant.  Just after they left, the first of our guests for the rest of the day arrived - a friend of our 2 dd's who has a new baby and our family (and another family from our church) are ministering/mentoring her, and other friend came, too.  Just after they arrived, my family - mom, brother and his girlfriend - came.  I have to say that - THANKFULLY - my brother was on very good behavior and only one quick little attempt at an opposing politcal comment was made but I told him that I didn't want to have those conversations today and (wow!) that was it.  PTL!! 

We had so much wonderful food - truly a feast:  I made the turkey, the obligatory green bean casserole, salad, homemade herb bread, cheesecake, veggies w/my homemade dill dip (better then store-bought, if I do say so myself!  lol), cheese tray and homemade punch.  My mom brought the stuffing, cornbread, mashed potatoes w/sour cream, chives and cheese (!), red velvet cake (homemade!), home-grown corn and sweet potatoes, while my brother brought shrimp and cocktail sauce.  It seems like I'm missing something, but believe me, we DID NOT lack anything good! 

I would also like to tell you all that I am thankful for all of you who take the time to read, to comment and to leave messages and/or e-mail me.  I praise the Lord for the miracle of the internet and the fun of blogs that have brought us together and the friendships made.  You have made such a precious, comforable nest in my heart.

Blessings to you all...

Kim Wolf<><

From our family to yours...

Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving!

"Over the river and through the woods
Trot fast my dapple gray.
Spring over the ground
Like a hunting hound
On this Thanksgiving Day, Hey!
Over the river and through the woods
Now Grandmother's face I spy.
Hurrah for the fun,
Is the pudding done?
Hurrah for the pumpkin pie."
- English folksong

In just an hour or so, we'll pack up our baskets of goodies and indeed be heading "through the woods" to Grandmother's house. Of course, it's now my sister's house, but it still brings those wonderful memories of gatherings and meals that Gram prepared for us. We have much to be thankful for, as always. Thank you for your visits, your sweet comments, friendship and prayers. I count you among my blessings!

Blessings to you......this Thanksgiving Day

Dearest Friends,

I hope this day finds you surrounded by family and friends....  May your tables be laden with the bounty of the earth.....  And my your heart be filled with thankful prayers for all that God has so graciously given.....

Yours so very kindredly,

Shan

Happy Thanksgiving!

To each and every one,
Happy Thanksgiving from our homestead to yours!
May God bless you today and always.
My Cup Runneth Over...
~Chas~
Chasity L. Burrell
Senior Editor Homesteadblogger
Heritage Acres Farm

The Twelve Dates of Christmas

Believe it or not, I decided to watch Oprah today (I don't normally watch her, for my own reasons), and heard a wonderful idea on there from a viewer today.   The viewer spoke about not spending alot for Christmas, buying what you need when you need it throughout the year, and the only present they both really wanted, was time with the other!  How sweet is that.  I would have to agree this year.

In fact, the spoiled little rich girl (that would be me), in the last several years has become very practical.  Matthew and I even spoke about buying each other useful gifts this year.  On my list is a new electric can opener.  How silly huh???  You would want one too if someone (hubby) had taken your only hand crank can opener to work with him to open his canned soups for lunches.  Now the house, came with a hand crack can opener on the wall, but it is for the HUGE cans, and it barely works on normal sized cans.  It is enought to make a person scream!!

So, back to the idea on Oprah.  The viewer told how they enjoy the Twelve Dates of Christmas together.  They choose 12 days in which they will spend time together.  Some dates are eating out, but others are as simple as builing a snowman, or baking and decorating cookies together.  I loved the idea.  So I brought it up in conversation tonight over supper with hubby and he surprisingly loves the idea.  Of course, that doesn't mean he is off the hook for the can opener though. LMSO

So what frugal, or even free ideas are you all planning for this Christmas.  Everyone is tight this year it seems, and the economy doesn't look like it is changing before then, so what are you doing differently this year???

We are cutting way back on presents, making alot of homemade presents, giving homemade gifts such as apple butter, salsa, breads, etc.  We are taking the dip in the economy as a chance to teach our family that Christmas isn't all about Black Friday, the perfectly wrapped present, the most expensive electronics, the name brand this or that!!!

A GREAT deal for Homeschoolers

As I'm sure most of you know, I love The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. For homeschooling families, it is a must have resource. If you have always wanted to try it, now is the time! Of course, if you already subscribe, it's also a great time to renew because...

The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine is having an amazing sale on subscriptions during their annual Black Friday Sale November 26 – 30. For those 5 days only, they are drastically reducing their one-year subscription price to $7.95! That's the price you would usually pay for just one issue at a bookstore!

This is their lowest price ever on the magazine and they want all of you to take advantage of this offer and share the info with your friends. Please don't miss out. Your one-year subscription will pay for itself time and time again as you receive practical tips and Biblical encouragement to keep going strong in your commitment to homeschooling and to the Lord. Since it's a quarterly magazine, they even have a monthly subscriber's only E-Newsletter called Teacher's Toolbox that will give you seasonal teaching ideas and a free E-Book download! It's like joining a unit study of the month club! The free E-Books alone are valued at almost $250/year. It's really perfect for people who are homeschooling on a shoestring or just wanting to add in some little extras to your teaching.

Plus during the Black Friday Sale, they have all kind of bonus gifts when you spend $50, $75, $100, or $150. Some are electronic downloads that you can download immediately, while other are physical products mailed from various vendors directly to your home.

AND, their Win Big contest is going on so if you just happen to be customer 67,000, you will receive a prize package valued at almost $500 which includes a $150 gift certificate to the Schoolhouse Store! Who couldn't use that? And you can qualify to win it no matter how much or how little you spend!

Mark your calendars for November 26 - 30th and do a little shopping from your seat, not your feet at the Schoolhouse Store's Black Friday Sale!

www.TheOldSchoolhouseStore.com

'Twas the night before Thanksgiving...

There are pies in the oven and a turtle cheesecake cooling on the counter. I'm taking care to rest in between making desserts. My surgery went well yesterday. I was flooded with peace and just knew that my friends were praying for me. Don't ever wonder if your prayers make a difference...they definitely do! I woke up this morning feeling much better, so unfortunately, I did too much. I am in quite a bit of pain this evening and have some difficulty getting around, but it's only day two, so I am trying to be patient. After our meal tomorrow, I will rest and try to as much as possible over the weekend as well. I look forward to tomorrow's festivities. There is much to be thankful for!

Thanksgiving funnies

Here a few cute Thanksgiving funnies my mom sent me.

Have a blessed day, mj