My Heart's Desire

Monday Menu Planner

Monday:  WHO KNOWS!!  LMSO

Tuesday:  Ham, Cheesy Potatoes, Peas

Wednesday:  Meatball Subs, Green Beans, Fruit

Thursday:  Crockpot Chicken Pot Pie

Friday:  Pork Chops, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Corn

Saturday:  Hamburgers, Baked Potatoes, Glazed Carrots

Sunday: Planned Leftovers

I have no idea what is for supper tonight.  LOL  Matthew wants me to make a pot of chilli.  IT IS BLAZING HOT HERE!!  What is he thinking???? He wants to take the leftovers in his lunch this week.   So I might just make some baked potatoes tonight and everyone can top them however they way.  Which means we will have some fresh chilli to top them with if anyone wants.  YUM!

In my world

Thank You Jesus For Everything!

Hallelujah!! It is a beautiful day here in KY. I have enjoyed this year around home so much cause hubby is home now more and we are getting some much needed things done. It is awesome when we wait and trust..... things just come to us that is needed.

I have been creating cards

Our Kitty Joy enjoying his life.

 Our flower bed a few weeks back

Sending God's blessings your way for that is His will to bless ...not curse. Only In Jesus' Holy Name!!

Lovingly, rilda

Happy Father's Day to all the dads...

Today is Father's Day!  I do hope everyone is super loving the daddys of their world.  I no longer have an earthly daddy to love on, so I will concentrate on my children's daddy.   

The plans we have are as follows:

Breakfast-bacon, fried eggs and toast with homemade jam.

Then off to church.  After church, I plan on stopping by Farm Fresh to pick up some Pepsi for Donnie.  Sigh....

At 2 pm we will be going to Natasha and Pat's house for a graduation celebration for their daughter, Breanna.  Donnie wanted to support Pat and I wanted to support Natasha, as well as, Breanna.  We will only be able to stay for about one to one and half hours though.  That is okay with Natasha.  Ah...having good friends is a real blessing of the LORD.

Next we will be coming home to have some Beale family daddy time.  He might want to watch the race--Donnie is a NASCAR fan--Oh well, it is his day.

I have the steaks already marinating.  The Three Bean Salad is also made.  In a few minutes I am going in the kitchen to make his favorite pie--Lemon Meringue.  The only dish I have to cook before eating is fried yellow squash and onions.  That is our menu for the evening. 

We will be joined by Donnie's eldest son, Lee for the meal.  He is a dad, too, but his children are in Italy for three years, so we want him here with us and not alone on Father's Day.  Plus, Lee has a way of livening up a party.  Personality plus is this man of 40 years.

So, these are the plans.  

I have finally got Seth into is larger room.  It has been freshly painted and cleaned.  (Seth was moved from this room into a smaller computer room when his sister and her family moved in with us for seven months.)  I promised Seth that I would redo his room anyway he wanted--within reason--He chose camouflague.  So, his bed is done in cami and I am working on the rest of the room, slowly.  Very slowly these days.  He did not sneeze once last night--the room was so clean.  Yipee!!!

Well, I need to go and make a pie and fix some breakfast!

A special "Happy Father's Day" to Robert, Pat, James and Jim from the Beale Bungalow!! 

God Bless!

P.S.  Marianne and Angie, the CalMag, Rescue Remedy, Alfalfa and Vitamin B has my BP down and I did sleep last night.  Thanks for the support.  Now, I need to just remember to keep taking my supplements.   

The Weekend is Upon Us

Noah and I went to get our hair cuts on Friday.  We were both getting rather shaggy I must say.  LOL   My friend Angie who cuts our hair was suprised at how fast Noah's hair grows and how shaggy he was.  We haven't seen her in over a month! LOL  I feel so much better now with my hair shaped up and Noah looks so handsome with his hair short.  When we arrived home, his daddy was pleasantly suprised to see him looking like a little man with no curls at the ends again.  LOL 

Friday night, Matthew came home and took over child duties for the evening, so a friend and I could go out to eat!!  I haven't been out without one or both of the boys (hubby and Noah), for a very long time, and of course it was much appreciated.  We went to eat Chinese, then to Wal-Mart (where I had to pick up a few things like denim sewing needles and some new scissors for an upcoming sewing project), and then went to Payless as well.  We were both hoping Wal-Mart of Payless in our area would have some cute sandals, but we were very disappointed in the selection at each store!  But we enjoyed getting out of town, telling stories and giggling together.  We spoke over dinner how nice it was to hang up the wife and mother hat for a few hours and just me "me".  Of course we love the men in our lives, and our children....but sometimes you have to get away and be yourself!  It was so nice.

Today Matthew is working on an electrical job.  His client first told him he had till the end of the month to finish.  Now he changed it and told Matthew he needs it done by this Sunday.  So Matthew will be working late today and possibly into the evening working on it I am sure.  Tomorrow he is planning on going to church (separate cars) and then taking off to finish up while we come back home for Noah's afternoon nap.  I hate to see him working so hard, and yes we miss him when he is gone so much, but he is enjoying the work, bringing in some extra money and I am proud of him for building up this second job so that one day he can eventually quite his job and be self employeed.  We have been blessed this week to have him home several days during the week before supper though, and he and Noah had a blast playing together last night while I was gone.

Today while Matthew is working, I will be at home working.  Noah is really getting into a movie while I am typing this blog, and hopefully he can entertain himself for a while today either watching it, or playing, etc. because I have so much to do.  I havevn't already determinded I won't get it all done today, but I must make a huge effort to get a dint in it all.  I have laundry to get caught up this weekend, and of course.....the dreaded dishes (the dishwasher is broke...UGH!), lots of cooking to do,and I have been decluttering and boxing up items for our sale too.  That is a job all in itself honestly.  I am not looking forward to all the chores and I find myself dragging my feet a little this morning just thinking about it all.  But I am trudging forward and praying God will help me get it all done with a positive attitude and in a timely manner so I can enjoy my finally this evening.  I always have part of tomorrow to finish up.

cornmeal-fried onion rings

I made these on Memorial Day, and oh my gosh, they were SOOOO good!  There weren't any leftovers.  The recipe came from Barefoot Contessa at home by Ina Garten.

Cornmeal-Fried onion Rings

2 large Spanish onions (or 3 yellow onions)

2 cups buttermilk

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup (medium) yellow cornmeal

1 quart vegetable oil

     Peel the onions, slice them 1/2- to 3/4-inch thick, and separate them into rings.  Combine the buttermilk, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl.  Add the onion rings, toss well, and allow to marinate for at least 15 minutes.  (The onion rings can sit in the buttermilk for a few hours.)  In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.  Set aside.

     When you're ready to fry the onion rings, preheat the oven to 200 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with paper towels.

     Heat the oil to 350 degrees in a large pot or Dutch oven.  (A candy thermometer attached to the side of the pot will help you maintain the proper temperature.)  Working in batches, lift some onions out of the buttermilk and dredge them in the flour mixture.  Drop into the hot oil and fry for 2 minutes, until golden brown, turning them once with tongs.  Don't crowd them!  Place the finished onions on the baking sheet, sprinkle liberally with salt, and keep them warm in the oven while you fry the next batches.  Continue frying the onion rings and placing them in the warm oven until all the onions are fried.  They will remain crisp in the oven for up to 30 minutes.  Serve hot.

banana-sour cream loaf

I got this recipe from a Gooseberry patch cookbook called Made From Scratch.  It turned out pretty good...

Banana-Sour Cream Loaf

2/3 c. butter

1 1/3 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 c. bananas, mashed

2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour

1 t. baking powder

1 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

1/2 c. sour cream

1 c. chopped nuts

     Cream butter and sugar together; add eggs and bananas, beat until smooth.  In a separate bowl, sift flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together.  Add dry mixture alternately with sour cream to banana mixt, blend well.  Fold in nuts and pour into a gread 9"x5" loaf pan; bake at 350 degrees for 55-65 minutes.  Makes 8 servings.

You Will Never Guess Where Little Man Found His Sippy Cup Today

Noah came to me today looking for his sippy cup.  He couldn't find it anywhere!  Matthew came home from work about the time we were looking for us and helped us find it. 

We found it.....in the potty chair!!!  We have been keeping the potty chair in the front room so Noah can potty in it during the day, and yes it was perfetly clean.  But when Matthew lifted the lid, there it was.  I instantly started laughing.  Matthew handed Noah his cup and they had to have a talk about how we ned to put our cup on the table and no where near the potty seat.  LOL  It was such a funny conversation between the boys, that I had to keep my head turned and my hand over my mouth so that Matthew and Noah couldn't see me giggling.  LOL

Ahhh the life of a 3 year old.  I wouldn't give it up for anything!!!

Bryson's 5th Grade Luau and Graduation

How To Make Your Own Water Color Paints

A friend of mine just posted this tutorial about how to make your own water color paints, and I just had to share it with you!!!!  She is trying to teach her children to make do, do without, or make things instead of just going out and buying new items.  Well aren't we all??  LOL

I thought this was a great project for anyone would is looking for a cute project to do with the kids for the summer, or even for homeschooling.   Here are her pics and tutorial:

My kids love to paint and we burn quickly through a lot of craft supplies.  I found a recipe to make you own water color paint and thought it would be fun to try.  I'm trying to teach them to make stuff instead of rushing out to buy it.

You will need:
1 T. white vinegar
2 T. baking soda
1 T. cornstarch
1/4 tsp. glycerin (this can be found in a drug store, with the laxatives(see pic.), make sure to get the liquid and not capsules)
1 T. water
liquid food coloring
Plastic bottle caps, empty paint box, or styrofoam egg carton

Mix the vinegar and baking soda in a small bowl, I used the measuring cup.  Be prepared for the chemical reaction, it's going to foam up a bit.  I stirred mine together and then once it stopped bubbling I added the cornstarch, glycerin, and 1 T. of water.
Pour into the bottle caps (or whatever sort of container you're using).  One batch filled six bottle caps.  I think that the egg carton would be perfect for younger children, but my eggs come in a cardboard container! 

Now for the fun part, add the food coloring.  I used two drops of each color for the paints in the top row.  For the bottom row I got creative and started mixing.  From left to right: a dusty lavender, teal green, navy blue, reddish brown, and black.  I used toothpicks to mix the colors in.

Let dry overnight and start painting.  If they are still a little wet that's fine, the colors will be more vibrant.  These paints are meant for kids or fun, not fine art, they are easy to work with and when applied thickly they have a suede like texture from the baking soda.

We do not need.......

Thank You Jesus For Everything!

Hello everyone I am enjoying my day with music and joy in my heart.

I read this and want to share.

We do not need more intellectual power, we need more spiritual power.

We do not need more of the things that are seen, we need more of the things that are unseen.

Calvin Coolidge

^j^ ^j^ ^j^ ^j^

Father bring us into your realm.......of knowing your desires within us are to bring us all we need to be prosperous in and through you. As we trust you with all our hearts we do live in prosperity. I receive, I receive ALL you have for me. My name is on it and I know no one can claim it before I pass over exect me, so I cheerful and lovingly receive.

In Jesus' Holy Name!!

In Love, rilda