The Journey Towards Home - From Mess Maker to Home Maker

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Travalogue, chicken pox, swimming, and pancakes

I have 5 turkey carcasses in a cooler on my deck. I need to go get my pots and fill them with water for boiling. I should have done ti the moment we walked in the house yesterday..... but I was too foggy to think properly. sigh. so now, that is one day of simmering I have not got done, extending the process out later this week. I guess I shouldn't complain, since it will probably be a 7-8 day process anyway.... but still....
We got to my mom's on Thursday morning. My bro and his family showed up soon after. we ate veggies and cheese and then had dinner. I made my children have 2 bites of everything - even stuff I know they don't particularly like (squash, stuffing, sweet potatoes made even nasty-sweeter with brown sugar and maple.... it is so sweet and sugary it is gaggy! anyway....) And they ate it. Good little children.

Of course, I did that as well. Need to be a good example. But I let them eat as much of the other stuff that they wanted after that, so they filled up on mashed pots and turkey. And then we took a walk to the park where we walked (or ran or played) the food off. Then home for hot chocolate and pie. I managed to score 3 turkey carcasses from my mom's neighbors. My brother, who went to massage therapy school, but RARELY ever uses his talents to bless his family, was convinced to massage my back and shoulders while I sat on mom's massage chair in the kitchen. It felt good, but my back was so tight, he could only do so much. When he was done, I just sat there not moving, and my ds7 came over to do what he saw his uncle doing. he was very good. what a sweet boy I have.
Saturday morning, we left the children at grandma's to make gingerbread houses. We went to IHOP for breakfast. We went to a specific one close to the movie theater at which we had tickets fro Twilight at 10:30. Unfortunately, it is smack dab in a shopping center, and had a 30 minute wait "at least" - at 7:30 am!!!! So we decided to head to my SIL's to pick-up/drop off some stuff in the meantime. She pointed out that there was an IHOP right across the highway from her, so we went there; twice as big, and EMPTY (well, not completely) and we sat down just as dh's 30 min alarm went off. I had their yummy yummy "coffee cake pancakes" - the lemon blueberry (except I had strawberry) - and I LOVED them!
Then we went to the movie. I was very disappointed. First, let's start with all the garbage ads I had to sit through. Movie starts at 10:30. NOT. Ads start at 10:30.... movie at 11:00. As for Twilight itself, well, it was as true to the book as it could be, I like how they portrayed Charlie, the Blacks, Alice, Carlisle, and Jasper. It had a good Bella and Edward and I liked the kids at the high school. But I did not like the way it condensed the book. I guess there was only so many choices, but this reaffirms: NEVER WATCH MOVIES BASED ON BOOKS THAT YOU LIKE!!!!!!! I watched the first two HP's, but refused after that. I do not like the LotR books, so the movies were great for me. But I have not and will not watch the Narnia movies. The books are too much part of me, and my visions of them are the best, and I will NOT have those corrupted.
Then we went back to mom's for a few hours where I learned that my midwife's children have the chicken-pox. very exciting, and I was planning to head right over to expose my children.... but.... dh has never had them, and he is unsure about the wisdom of purposefully getting our healthy children sick. and, this is probably not the best time for getting the house sick with this. Especially since dh has not had it. We do not have time for THAT! Hopefully we will get another chance in the next few years. And we can decide what to do with dh in the meantime.
We went and did a bit of clothes shopping, and found our favorite pizza place closed - it was a small mom-n-pop shop with the BEST breadsticks you have ever had! They were immigrants from Bosnia, and they worked so hard to make it. Very sad. Then back to mom's where we got all the kids ready to go swimming. Oh dear, it has been too long. My little swimmer babies were afraid of the water! We used to go weekly, and my older two were swimming laps and playing in the deep (for them) without life jackets. They were 2 and 4 when we moved and quit. Friday night they would not let go of the edge. and dd2 was scared to death and would not let go of anyone. But by the end of the night, ds7 was swimming around easily (as long as he had on his life jacket) and dd2 loved the water and would "swim" (we push her away and tell her to "hum" when her face goes under) 3 feet to her other loved one. and dd4 - she refused to get out of the water until it was almost a threat of consequences. We need to find a pool here.
Saturday morning, I woke up, and took the olders on a date to breakfast (back to IHOP for more of those pancakes); g'ma came with us. we took some home to daddy and Lion (dd2) and then we played a game, cleaned up our room, packed our stuff and waved goodbye. Stopped at a friend's house for a moment, then on to home. And that was our Thanksgiving weekend.
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Saturday, November 29, 2008

my misery

I am sick. ugh
headache (I have an ice mask on right now.... but it warms so fast, and soon it will have to go back to the freezer)
earache (I put in some GOOT and that took care of the pain, but the ringing is still there anytime my children sing or hum repetatively - which is ALL the time, and normally, I love the songs they sing...)
sore throat (I am making some lemon herb tea with Eucalyptus honey - that is always good)
tired body (I am headed upstairs to sleep)
floaty head - do you know what I mean? My head and body feels like it is floating around, not really connected to anything. That probably has something to do with my ears, eh?
slight nausea - is this a symptom of whatever I have right now, or is it a side effect of all the mucus hanging out in my throat aggrevating my all-too-sensative-because-of-pregnancy-gag-reflex?

and other side effect - I cannot spell today. so I apologize for my worse-than-usual spelling. ow - I need more goot in my ears. good night.
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2008-Nov-28

The Post-Thanksgiving Lull...

Posted in On Our Family Homestead

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<><

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2008-Nov-28

What to do with Turkey Leftovers

Do you have leftover turkey meat to use up and need some ideas? We usually eat Thanksgiving dinner the day after but by the 3rd day we are ready for something different. I find just about any recipe that uses cooked chicken works quite well with cooked turkey. The recipes below are actually chicken recipes but you can just sub turkey meat in place of the chicken:

Turkey Enchiladas This recipe is for the enchilada sauce. Fill corn or whole wheat tortillas with chopped up turkey and cheese. Roll them up and place in a 9x13 pan (or 9x9 or 11x15 pan, depending on how many people you are feeding). Pour enchilada sauce over all, top with more cheese and bake at 350 until all is hot and bubbly and cheese has melted.

Sweet and Sour Turkey

Turkey Lasagna

Black Bean Turkey Chili

Turkey Pot Pie

Turkey Green Bean Casserole

Ranch House Turkey Casserole

Turkey Tettrazzini for the Freezer

And finally the last thing I do with my turkey is make Turkey Noodle Soup. I put the turkey carcass (after I have picked off just about all the meat) into a large stock pot and cover with water. I add a chopped onion for flavor and some salt. Bring to a boil and let it cook for a couple of hours. Strain out the turkey bones and remove any meat that is left. Pour turkey broth back into stock pot and add the meat bits. Bring to a boil and add noodles. Taste and season with a little salt and pepper and/or a little chicken broth powder if needed. Serve with some homemade dinner rolls and a salad.

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2008-Nov-28

Friday on the Homestead

Well we are in Thanksgiving home recovery mode today! LOL.. Time for clean up and then bringing out the Christmas decorations. I have already decorated my website and blog!

We had a very nice Thanksgiving. It was just the kids, Tobin and me and Tobin’s dad came too. The food was delicious. We ate dinner at about 3:00 and then I took a nap.. Funny how turkey does that to a person

. While I napped the kids and Tobin played Taboo. Then we moved onto pumpkin and apple pie. Emily was in charge of table decorations and she did such a nice job. Here is a pic of the table and place settings…

Here is a pic of me and Emily and Leanne

And one of Isaac being his silly little self

Grandpa left to go home around 6:30 and we all chatted in the living room until about 8:00 and decided it was time to watch a couple episodes of LOST. Then it was bedtime. All in all it was a relaxing day.

Now we are moving into December and the holiday season. I still have several gifts to sew and packages to get out in the mail. I think after house cleaning today I will work on my little grandson Owens baby quilt. I need to get my Christmas box to my daughter and her family out in a couple of weeks. I am adding some fudge to the box and tried a different fudge recipe that was soooo good! I will be posting the recipe for it soon. I have a couple more test batches to make and get some of it in the freezer for my other gift boxes.

I hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving day!

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Thursday, November 27, 2008

how to cut a [free] turkey

We are not BIG turkey fans around here, but when the local grocery gives you turkey vouchers every time you shop, and you get some extras from a friend.... well, I got a 16# turkey for $.02. Free food, really.
but - we are only 5 people, who have a hard time eating a 5# roast chicken in 3 meals. So, how does one deal with 16# of meat? Even free meat. Well, a little research gives some ideas......

http://www.recipetips.com/kitchen-tips/t--436/cutting-up-a-whole-turkey.asp
great illustrations of how to butcher a turkey. Give it a minute - for some reason this site was slow to load even on my usually fast connection.

and the USU extension service has this PDF:
http://extension.usu.edu/boxelder/files/uploads/fn290.pdf. (I hope this works - I have never linked to a PDF before...)
this is cool because it claims that you do not have to fully defrost the turkey to butcher it, and then you can refreeze the portions... definitely helpful in my situation. It does mean that I will have to work fast though, and have freezer space ready and waiting. Still..... a handy thing to know.

Oh, and assuming we can manage a 5# chicken in 3 meals, a 16# turkey could conceivably last us for 10-12 meals. Not bad for 2 cents!

Have a great Thanksgiving!
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2008-Nov-26

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well my house has been full of activity, voices chatting and music playing today. The girls and I have been baking and cooking in preparation for tomorrow. We started the morning by putting on Christmas music to give us all a holiday feel.

And it worked.. we rolled up our sleeves and got busy in the kitchen. Amazing what four ladies working side by side can accomplish.

So far here is what we have done:

Pot roast in the crockpot (that is for tonight’s dinner)

Bread cubed and dried for stuffing (I’ll make the stuffing tomorrow morning)

2 pumpkin pies made

1 batch dinner roll dough made, rolled into rolls and flash frozen. We will take them out of the freezer tomorrow morning and bake them as soon as the turkey comes out of the oven.

1 apple pie is currently being made

8lbs potatoes peeled

Jello salad all made

Tomorrow will be a quiet Thanksgiving Day with my family but I am very much looking forward to it. We have so much to be thankful to God for.. His blessings are never ending! May the Lord bless you as you share your Thanksgiving meal tomorrow with your family…

From my thankful heart to yours..

Crystal

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Wednesday, November 26, 2008

I am the Stuffing

Okay, I do not usually do so many quizzes, but this one was kind of fun. Do not ask me what the last question means..... I am very removed from popular culture, so that might explain it! LOL!

What Part of Thanksgiving Are You?

You Are The Stuffing

You're complicated and complex, yet all your pieces fit together.
People miss you if you're gone - but they're not sure why.

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2008-Nov-25

Days Gone By...

Posted in On Our Family Homestead

Off and on something comes up about my modeling days and some of you will contact me by message or e-mail and ask about it. I modeled from the time that I was 9 until - literally - days before I married at 25. I also doubled as a make-up artist from 19 to around 32. I know...if you know me now you'd think that was impossible! lol I often say that I'm rebelling as I've given up the suits and 4" heels for jeans and Burkenstocks! And I'm MUCH happier now!!

But, I thought I'd share a few of my portfolio pics with you...

This is from my very first portfolio shot in 1969 at age 10. I had done a couple of runway shows before I even had a portfolio. I was with this agency until I was 16.

Different agency. This was from 1977, age 18, taken in Downtown Dayton, Ohio. I always loved location shots and doing commercials. I really enjoyed the switch on a 'formal' look by going w/a tux instead of a long gown. I wish I could find a still of the "Arby's Days"...I used to do local Arby's commercials.

This was a fun headshot taken around 1980, age 21. I actually had a MONSTEROUS stack perm and calmed it down for the day's work! At this point I was also teaching at this particular agency part-time, working the Clinique counter at a dept. store full-time and trying to have a social life. I made myself sick and was hospitalized shortly after this was taken. That's when my modeling started to take a back seat ... my agency was NOT amused. I wasn't there that much longer and ended up going free-lance, which actually paid more anyway. So it worked out in the end.

Well, there's the show. It certainly seems like looking at a movie of another person's life now, and, in many ways, it is. I wasn't a Christian until I was 23 and the Lord is SO gracious, forgiving and good to me! I went through a broken engagement from an atheist, became a Christian in 1982 and married my wonderful Christian husband in 1984. I am undeserving and grateful!

As a side note...the last time I modeled were the last 2 months before we married, in 1984, in a wedding series that traveled to about 10 different stores. The wedding gown I had picked out for our own wedding happened to be in the show and the coordinators let me wear it in the shows in one of my sets!! My sweet Ty, when he would take me to some of the shows, knew which "bride's maids" walked out before me in the set when I wore my gown and he would lower his head and look at the floor until that set was over so that he wouldn't see me in my gown until I walked down OUR isle. Wasn't that sweet? He said that whenever I walked out in that gown the audience would ooo and ahhh and it was a terrible temptation to look. lol

So, there you have it. Hope you enjoyed the journey.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

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Tuesday, November 25, 2008

what spice am I?

I think this is interesting, and I can accept this assessment of my personality, but.... isn't basil an herb, not a spice?

oh, and I think there is a mistype on it - I hope I am loved by MOST people, not POST people! LOL

What Spice Are You?

You Are Basil

You are quite popular and loved by post people.
You have a mild temperament, but your style is definitely distinctive.
You are sweet, attractive, and you often smell good.

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The Journey Towards Home - From Mess Maker to Home Maker

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Travalogue, chicken pox, swimming, and pancakes

Saturday, November 29, 2008

my misery

2008-Nov-28

The Post-Thanksgiving Lull...

2008-Nov-28

What to do with Turkey Leftovers

2008-Nov-28

Friday on the Homestead

Thursday, November 27, 2008

how to cut a [free] turkey

2008-Nov-26

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

I am the Stuffing

What Part of Thanksgiving Are You?

2008-Nov-25

Days Gone By...

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

what spice am I?

What Spice Are You?

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