tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61017447488554359792023-11-16T09:07:12.963-05:00One Step at a Timetammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16359944931272497413noreply@blogger.comBlogger291125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101744748855435979.post-27411319312826535322014-08-29T22:21:00.000-04:002014-08-29T22:21:50.243-04:00Chats on the Farmhouse #154<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBLd4huU0ZqT9dbMV-a6LRReijeP4vhjklMphLHNmIQWG-S8wfhXyRFE9exAZTwowV72ZV619YYBPera8eCszY8jqtwxihCNsb8eE97i31HTOFAc0hBQpDYJboyj0TC8A-DKasuuqo54/s1600/chatsonthefarmhouseporch.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBLd4huU0ZqT9dbMV-a6LRReijeP4vhjklMphLHNmIQWG-S8wfhXyRFE9exAZTwowV72ZV619YYBPera8eCszY8jqtwxihCNsb8eE97i31HTOFAc0hBQpDYJboyj0TC8A-DKasuuqo54/s320/chatsonthefarmhouseporch.jpg" /></a><br />
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Found this fun little weekly Chat on the Farmhouse Porch. If you want to participate or see more, visit <a href="http://www.everydayruralty.com/2014/08/chat-154.html">Everyday Ruralty</a>.<br />
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Questions:<br />
1. Please tell me something you have done recently that was really fun.
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2. Do you worry about any issues regarding food/food quality/food production?
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3. Have you painted any of your walls with colors other than white, beige, or tan?
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4. What is your favorite way to have a hamburger? If you do not eat meat, what is your favorite sandwich?
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5. Please finish this sentence. If I could, I'd like to play_____________________. This could be a musical instrument, a part in a play- use your imagination:)<br />
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My Answers:<br />
1. We just got back from spending a few days at the beach. One evening we had a miniature golf championship game among the family members that were there. Before the game our son threw out a challenge. If ANYONE beat him, he would buy everyone ice cream. It came down to my husband getting a needed hole in one on the 18th hole to beat him by one! So, we walked over to Sweet Frog for a little dessert.<br />
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2. I don't really "worry" about them, although I do have concerns. I believe that there is so much on the market that we really have no business eating. Fresh and whole food is best and non GMO is the way to go. It's a shame that it has come down to big business modifying food to get the cheapest "food" out there to make the most profit. That and we are SPOILED rotten. Fresh strawberries in December?? Anyway, lots of food concerns and I could take up pages, but no real worries. I just try to do my best.<br />
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3. So funny! We have the living room and dining room a brown/bronze color and our son's room is a tan, Those are the only rooms that are that "plain". Kitchen/family room is a sunny yellow, guest bathroom is sea blue/green, daughter's room is brown, green and blue, school room is two shades of bright blue, master bedroom is orange...YES, orange!...and the master bath is a Greek blue. <br />
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4. Grilled hamburger with bacon. Onions and grilled mushrooms are yummy on it. I would love CHEESE on that, but alas, I cannot. <br />
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5. I'd like to play the piano. I never really got far learning that one!tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16359944931272497413noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101744748855435979.post-56205877763636398692013-01-15T14:55:00.001-05:002013-01-15T14:55:25.765-05:00Goals for 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOCcM7mArx0LOp9T6vkvfd7kbTbr8dBcOGue_I7kPqJyRLXR63G6pmpr09Z65qfhLYFZkjtlodciyE5po05Rb2OHvmDb0erHoI-KLmck5qRnNWMXNSAjEfcqGlaXpVSKn62eWesq8jxaY/s1600/DSC_4712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOCcM7mArx0LOp9T6vkvfd7kbTbr8dBcOGue_I7kPqJyRLXR63G6pmpr09Z65qfhLYFZkjtlodciyE5po05Rb2OHvmDb0erHoI-KLmck5qRnNWMXNSAjEfcqGlaXpVSKn62eWesq8jxaY/s320/DSC_4712.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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The new year always has me thinking extra long about goals. It ties into the tradition of everyone making New Year's Resolutions, except I don't like resolutions. Resolutions sound like something to be broken. (maybe it's just me and everyone else has always made and KEPT their resolutions) Instead, I like to look at them as goals and they are things that I would like to work towards accomplishing. I've been thinking about these for the past few weeks and finally decided to just get them written down. Of course, in some way that makes me a little more accountable and I guess that's good. The alternative is to just keep the goals floating in my head and then forgetting about them. However, that would be breaking my first goal. See, I do need to write these down!</div>
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1. Be more focused on accomplishing goals </div>
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2. Be more intentional</div>
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3. Less (that just says it all in so many areas!)</div>
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4. Start a compost pile</div>
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5. Enjoy (and learn more about) photography</div>
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6. Read, read, read</div>
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7. Get 30 years of photos organized!</div>
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8. Explore</div>
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9. Encourage</div>
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10. Share</div>
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Some of these are very specific, but some seem very vague. I'm not making them vague on purpose, but they happen to cover a lot of areas. Trying to list those areas would just take up too much space and would ultimately put you (and me) to sleep. So, these goals are getting printed and posted where I'll see them daily. Don't worry, as time goes by I will take this list and make them<a href="http://topachievement.com/smart.html"><b><span style="color: blue;"> SMART goals</span></b></a>. I plan to highlight many of them here during the year which will help keep me on track, if nothing else. It will also help explain those "vague" goals. Of course, I'll be sharing AND it might just encourage someone and that happens to be accomplishing numbers 9 and 10. Way to go, Me! Toot, Toot...yea, I toot my own horn all the time. (someone has to)</div>
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Another thing about me. I don't make goals just once a year. I'm constantly setting them and maybe I'll even share during the year as they come up. I love goals! How do you know where you're going, if you've never had a goal to reach? </div>
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How about you? </div>
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Are you a goal setter or a just fly by the seat of your pants kind of gal?</div>
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tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16359944931272497413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101744748855435979.post-26977383956056861342013-01-07T21:37:00.002-05:002013-01-07T21:37:54.185-05:00Pinterest Project Post <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So, who hasn't already been sucked into the Pinterest black hole? You go on there to just spend a few minutes and next thing you know an hour has passed by and your head is swimming with all the things you can do, make, try, etc. However, you can quickly clear your head and rest assured that all the wonderful stuff you just saw is safely pinned under proper headings on your very own board.<br /><br />But...<br /><br />those projects, tips, decorating ideas, recipes, and destinations just sit. You actually have to make time to do them! Who knew? This year one of my goals is to actually try more of the ideas that I have personally pinned and share the results right here. I have seen blog posts of several "Pinterest Fails" and to me those are kind of funny. I guess maybe not funny if a lot of money was invested, but I still get a chuckle out of most. My plan isn't to post a lot of fail stories. No, I'm hoping that ALL my pins are valuable tidbits of information.<br /></div>
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For my first project I decided to try out homemade laundry powder. I saw this "recipe"<span style="color: #cc0000;"> <a href="http://www.howdoesshe.com/cheaper-and-better-diy-laundry-detergent/" style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>here</b></span></a></span><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></span>and thought it was a wonderful solution for my laundry woes. Woes = trying to find a good detergent that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.<br /><br />You can read the specifics on the <b><a href="http://www.howdoesshe.com/cheaper-and-better-diy-laundry-detergent/"><span style="color: #cc0000;">original blog</span></a><span style="color: red;">,</span></b> but here are some of my pictures and thoughts.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj40GHk3M_DReIBtxlSRKv5KxLFz-W2SLinVKmbbu_Do81yYXF4Mg-KJH6ZMn9HS3Rw5JMd3V5BCiZ35FO5_R-BtPKYsvgrJVkd-PUIH0U0XdcghCs1hyphenhyphenLoKt8ccPRghqAEuCdaYPuqhE/s1600/DSC_6161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj40GHk3M_DReIBtxlSRKv5KxLFz-W2SLinVKmbbu_Do81yYXF4Mg-KJH6ZMn9HS3Rw5JMd3V5BCiZ35FO5_R-BtPKYsvgrJVkd-PUIH0U0XdcghCs1hyphenhyphenLoKt8ccPRghqAEuCdaYPuqhE/s400/DSC_6161.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />I was able to find everything I needed in the cleaning aisle at Wegman's. I am actually keeping track of just how many loads I get out of this and I will eventually report back with a cost analysis for you. I see on the How Does She? blog that she reports it lasting a year based on six loads a week. Well, in five days I've already done twelve loads. Guess what. This stuff is not going to make a year, but just how long will it last? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBFE4iKV4vMW_kewZfCFnzTqSXeV-fZ1gYUHYZ3rXaKywxZ2wYGuT_45ik8YcA5r_im-Mt0i_u3gn1Jx5lTVsz7nORZCPEqlWqmdQiSmOBFoNv_VXyR6H7V5jqT7eGFlCfqy2Rbau8o8/s1600/DSC_6266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBFE4iKV4vMW_kewZfCFnzTqSXeV-fZ1gYUHYZ3rXaKywxZ2wYGuT_45ik8YcA5r_im-Mt0i_u3gn1Jx5lTVsz7nORZCPEqlWqmdQiSmOBFoNv_VXyR6H7V5jqT7eGFlCfqy2Rbau8o8/s400/DSC_6266.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />My detergent looks different than the original post because I used Fels-Naptha and a different scent of the fabric softener. I will tell you that this stuff does smell good and clean. At the same time, though, your clothes don't come out overpowered with scent. There is some scent, but I was concerned that it was going to be too strong. I'm happy to report that is NOT the case.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyyC8Lfs17WWc3AryDB8nM8yGyl9Ol0mTJObpynudYxwBe_tj5OzJOtVf489gxo2QWLNX5Zen9lzAHciND19ErGsx2UtJAHI0kvXSkouGex7KAp0FDybrT4iMg1XtGwThEW2DLdR1saY/s1600/DSC_6268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyyC8Lfs17WWc3AryDB8nM8yGyl9Ol0mTJObpynudYxwBe_tj5OzJOtVf489gxo2QWLNX5Zen9lzAHciND19ErGsx2UtJAHI0kvXSkouGex7KAp0FDybrT4iMg1XtGwThEW2DLdR1saY/s400/DSC_6268.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I used the Oxi Clean tub as my container to hold detergent for daily use and the rest is store in my five gallon bucket. I can tell you that there is hardly a dent in it after the twelve loads. The best part is that it does really seem to be cleaning our clothes. So far, I have no complaints on this one. Stay tuned for the update with the cost per load. I imagine that will be sometime late spring.</div>
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Eventually, I hope to get others together to post once a week on their Pinterest Projects and to link up together here, so we have a place for readers to get reviews. If this is something that you are interested in, please let me know and I'll set it up. In the meantime, I'll just keep on with my goal of trying out my pins. </div>
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<br />tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16359944931272497413noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101744748855435979.post-7443447832797651802013-01-02T14:56:00.000-05:002013-01-02T15:01:46.145-05:00For the Birds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yes, it's been a while, but I'm here shaking the dusty blog off for the new year. I've really missed it. This year I do have lots of plans and hopefully I'll get to share them here. </div>
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I find it funny that my very last post here was about Kristin and birds. Why is that funny? Because today's post is about Kristin and birds! This was definitely not intentional, but it works for me. She does love her birds. So much, in fact, one of her Christmas gifts was a year subscription to <a href="http://www.birdsandblooms.com/Birds">Birds & Blooms</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZy_FNMHjaFW7xgMcYO0CXn8CWEp70o5DbRVeik49BGv-ilSAY9_X596Mp4pPAglHyVLpiN9xrkbCj3OHzU8P1q0W-i317j_XpO-EBWNQZtOEZihhEIjyoSMHQYIbU_TmPNq2WiezLlyw/s1600/DSC_6192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZy_FNMHjaFW7xgMcYO0CXn8CWEp70o5DbRVeik49BGv-ilSAY9_X596Mp4pPAglHyVLpiN9xrkbCj3OHzU8P1q0W-i317j_XpO-EBWNQZtOEZihhEIjyoSMHQYIbU_TmPNq2WiezLlyw/s320/DSC_6192.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
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The magazine sure came in handy when we discovered that a runaway loaf of bread had been spending a 10 day vacation in the back of my car. Kristin knew just what to do with this less than fresh loaf of bread. (thankfully it wasn't moldy)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogJAz_eQl-YMHUScE0RYBkR3qM2sSp4p4Z6Nw5qibbHsDCa-nzPvneratSVuFhkrI0nw8IIhyphenhyphen7HfQsLldC0v30G05U9tR9QmNXcPZKkIj6GE11QHhooTI7FRx3gZ5kgh4aVdtXvJA158/s1600/DSC_6175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogJAz_eQl-YMHUScE0RYBkR3qM2sSp4p4Z6Nw5qibbHsDCa-nzPvneratSVuFhkrI0nw8IIhyphenhyphen7HfQsLldC0v30G05U9tR9QmNXcPZKkIj6GE11QHhooTI7FRx3gZ5kgh4aVdtXvJA158/s320/DSC_6175.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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She remembered reading an idea about making bird treats. That's right, little gifts for birds.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglM9EPvIpkHVpnKXkbb0ut7NzVplVscyAz5twawrhknoVJMcQKXwxFebflI29iBox2xQz8J0f9yX7Xw1RVqO6pKCG8cLQQHW31RwWxBeneZNaOtTSg4h8IZTLjfX_tDpoQ7xIjGeJh7tE/s1600/DSC_6178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglM9EPvIpkHVpnKXkbb0ut7NzVplVscyAz5twawrhknoVJMcQKXwxFebflI29iBox2xQz8J0f9yX7Xw1RVqO6pKCG8cLQQHW31RwWxBeneZNaOtTSg4h8IZTLjfX_tDpoQ7xIjGeJh7tE/s320/DSC_6178.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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First, she got right to work cutting out shapes with cookie cutters.</div>
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You coat one side of the bread with egg whites and press them down into a pile of seeds. Then you pop them into the oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.</div>
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This is what you get after they come out of the oven. </div>
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A nice crispy treat! I'm sure if I were a bird, I'd be all over this!!</div>
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She added them to the platform out back, along with some yummy (yuck) worms, cracked corn and peanut balls. </div>
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Some went in little hiding spaces to surprise her feathered friends.</div>
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And some were hung in branches and looked pretty. Now, we're just waiting to see what they think. </div>
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Don't forget your feathered friends during the cold winter. <br />
Later on I'll share another treat Kristin is planning for the birds.</div>
tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16359944931272497413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101744748855435979.post-83420433356728488222012-06-21T20:41:00.004-04:002012-06-21T21:04:28.354-04:00Chicken Heaven<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 100%; ">K has a dream of living on a farm, so she jumped at the chance to help with our friends' chickens while they were away. I didn't hear one complaint as she did chicken coop duty which, of course, involved chicken POOP. She took the job seriously and even studied their photos the night before so she knew them all by name.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Today was a super hot day, so we took an apple and a bowl of ice with cranberries frozen on top. When we arrived the chickens were all in the coop sitting in front of their fan. They were so excited for the treats that they all came running down the ramp clucking up a storm. Nothing like a little chicken stampede to brighten the day.</span></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 100%; ">I made sure to bring my camera when we went to lock them in for the night so that I could snap a few shots for K. </span></div><span style="font-size: 100%;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 100%; "> (and for the chicken owners who are missing their girls!) </span></div></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRTuzcQcj_zTxTIhKA-J7rg7u059CQt5zQn7gDpNEFDqyQM52S7YmW61FS7fyMuTHNqiUGY9W4P5Ye9Je9l3f5NyBwXAtjdM7l-bRkCy2Xd-Y_J56nQRsQrrjS7fWen5HhkXBH22gum0/s1600/041.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRTuzcQcj_zTxTIhKA-J7rg7u059CQt5zQn7gDpNEFDqyQM52S7YmW61FS7fyMuTHNqiUGY9W4P5Ye9Je9l3f5NyBwXAtjdM7l-bRkCy2Xd-Y_J56nQRsQrrjS7fWen5HhkXBH22gum0/s400/041.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5756657416266810450" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span>I kindly asked them all to turn around and face me and say cheese, but they had other ideas.<br /> Chickens!!<br /><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Ogqh55jCwQqiMJwvkFqYk0GL9pJnVkYbh9vP-FJ324An1e0JOsky0YHFtBvSwlnqIziIxNBooJ1wB1JDCIsw3dTmCj4jak13QuvEGCFSAgHyXGKl3Y6_BUUkIFvxcXlX3AUL6qZx-HU/s1600/036.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Ogqh55jCwQqiMJwvkFqYk0GL9pJnVkYbh9vP-FJ324An1e0JOsky0YHFtBvSwlnqIziIxNBooJ1wB1JDCIsw3dTmCj4jak13QuvEGCFSAgHyXGKl3Y6_BUUkIFvxcXlX3AUL6qZx-HU/s400/036.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5756657402408970354" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">They were wondering if the tall dude had any treats on him.<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFiTI5BnP64qpXb8jD9cbHRkt9R2U6cKFetIQtwfznaCmtKbARBc4j2DA5Vdfh5D6ac5K1TrrrR8i0ZHUv_1TYmPFlK-OHb0v7DbHy0Q-TgMEixsjqiL7CwuK_zx4lxWCs7iOET2SP2w/s1600/039.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFiTI5BnP64qpXb8jD9cbHRkt9R2U6cKFetIQtwfznaCmtKbARBc4j2DA5Vdfh5D6ac5K1TrrrR8i0ZHUv_1TYmPFlK-OHb0v7DbHy0Q-TgMEixsjqiL7CwuK_zx4lxWCs7iOET2SP2w/s400/039.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5756657395804982722" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Chicken hug shot number 1<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6FPPjJlKehBY1EnPJStX491Uc6Lt6t5U3PoPlLqk3zY9LuYsqFkViSXgLJkMip3QnYFRbcTSjYN-IyUb6pUko9VnnAuMRGcU0ipKWFfCQTVt7IXHRgmFi22PGCS8V-cg_beqA1_dSPM/s1600/035.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6FPPjJlKehBY1EnPJStX491Uc6Lt6t5U3PoPlLqk3zY9LuYsqFkViSXgLJkMip3QnYFRbcTSjYN-IyUb6pUko9VnnAuMRGcU0ipKWFfCQTVt7IXHRgmFi22PGCS8V-cg_beqA1_dSPM/s400/035.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5756657389078919698" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Chicken hug shot number 2<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdqCLPxJMssrfJ3VRRG_-CwrkKjFrtGBCHnuCZ_3gr7FgCH8lxkFtbyEYokZ4s6xo_loj3EujbRXCQwrqeTsUnrd543lfPL6ro65I43pmdww8wN-uqCc5Z19qpt_vG3MsHLfjSzmJYJI/s1600/034.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdqCLPxJMssrfJ3VRRG_-CwrkKjFrtGBCHnuCZ_3gr7FgCH8lxkFtbyEYokZ4s6xo_loj3EujbRXCQwrqeTsUnrd543lfPL6ro65I43pmdww8wN-uqCc5Z19qpt_vG3MsHLfjSzmJYJI/s400/034.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5756657380639982290" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Chicken hug shot number 3 (yea, it's a little blurry...I'll stop here)<br /><br />Note to the chicken owners: <br />Rest assured....all your girls are closed up in their coop with food, fresh water, a frozen ice bottle and some scratch for snack. They survived the hottest day of the year and looked as happy as chickens when we left them.<br />8 eggs today and it looks like Maya used the regular nesting box </div><div style="text-align: center;">(instead of her special corner)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoy yourselves!!</div>tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16359944931272497413noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101744748855435979.post-11454682361708859072012-05-15T20:30:00.003-04:002012-05-15T20:30:55.638-04:00Sharing on your birthday...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This morning K woke up and was officially a <span style="color: lime;"><b><u>TEENAGER</u></b></span>! Woohoo!! To celebrate we had lots of shopping planned, a lunch at Chipotle and a big family dinner to cap off the day.<br /><br />However, there was one other stop planned for today. K has had her hair cut only a few times and each time she has donated to <a href="http://locksoflove.org/"><span style="color: magenta;">Locks of Love</span></a>. Today was the day for another donation. I think she was more than ready to shed the locks....and to be able to help others was the icing on the cake.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzpD2nYw2jRBKf1Cb7FCTlIn7ikp6X-SykkV9a4iVlw_tE-0rASHpqi6xKQWXkdFajJrBIMaHGX62acC47p4-3gmBtVtszGC9I-GkdXW5JjeBZoZOFunOtvSsiTemczRDOrkWR5Ae6JI/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzpD2nYw2jRBKf1Cb7FCTlIn7ikp6X-SykkV9a4iVlw_tE-0rASHpqi6xKQWXkdFajJrBIMaHGX62acC47p4-3gmBtVtszGC9I-GkdXW5JjeBZoZOFunOtvSsiTemczRDOrkWR5Ae6JI/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /> Here's a shot of Kristin this morning before we headed out for the day. <br /><div style="text-align: center;">
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<br />Quite a difference, isn't it?</div>
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<br />Back view</div>
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<br />New outfit, too!<br /><br />Happy Birthday, Kristin!!</div>tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16359944931272497413noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101744748855435979.post-33191393167477812362012-05-14T00:13:00.001-04:002012-05-15T22:12:50.361-04:00Constructing a special birthday cake....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, K will be turning 13 on Tuesday! I am not even going to get into my thoughts on that one. No, I'll save that for another post. Today's focus will be on the all important birthday cake. </div>
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Every year K likes to design her cake and I do my best to make it happen. This year has the added element of being her 13th birthday, which begs for an extra special cake. A few months ago K started thinking about cake. One thing you should know is that we are very different in this area. K likes to think months ahead and I like to take it one week at a time. Sometimes it bites me in the rear, but it's how I handle life. Anyway, K brings it up in February and I did my best to just shut it down. I told her I would make a yummy cake for her and she would like it! </div>
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Fast forward to this last Monday. Yikes, it's time to start planning that cake! </div>
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Hmmm, what to make?</div>
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I know K saw a picture of a cake months ago that had many layers and was tall. She definitely thought that was drool worthy, so I stored that in my file cabinet that I keep tucked in the corner of my brain. (your brain has corners, right?) However, that wasn't enough information to construct an extra special cake! I needed more. Thankfully, inspiration was soon to smack me upside the head. We were at the grocery store and once again she was drooling over Reese's Peanut Butter cups. She even went as far as to say that I could buy them as a birthday gift to her. BINGO!!</div>
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This year's cake idea was born!</div>
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I made three layers of chocolate fudge cake. (I actually made 4 layers, but I froze one for another dessert for another day) I sliced each layer in half and put fluffy peanut butter frosting between each layer.</div>
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I covered all the layers with homemade chocolate frosting. </div>
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Then I made bittersweet chocolate ganache to pour over the top. Chopped peanut butter cups finished off the design. It was declared a winner by the birthday girl! (and really that's what counts!!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihWxMPQJG53eBGuLF-361DUEbpWT8Dmm_ii_95JVuRYoIe60WmdwGAbx5mzUbbgD3023baHWgmyKb2QoLf0nXX0KgxbIwf5tKuo_XQQGLQqHBhvSfObn53Gc3xZU7oRGy4J3wYhCb28JA/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihWxMPQJG53eBGuLF-361DUEbpWT8Dmm_ii_95JVuRYoIe60WmdwGAbx5mzUbbgD3023baHWgmyKb2QoLf0nXX0KgxbIwf5tKuo_XQQGLQqHBhvSfObn53Gc3xZU7oRGy4J3wYhCb28JA/s320/044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I still have 24 hours with a 12 year old in the house, even though she already blew out the number 13! </div>
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I'm going to hang on to that thought!! </div>tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16359944931272497413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101744748855435979.post-27303214283046464422012-03-28T20:08:00.005-04:002012-03-28T20:36:24.237-04:00A New Friend for the Wee One<div style="text-align: center;"><span >We had Olivia today and she loves being outside. Fortunately, this morning was beautiful and we took the opportunity to get some fresh air. Our backyard is a pretty good size yard and watching her trek all the way to the back using those little legs is entertaining. Toddler energy never ceases to amaze me. Olivia seemed to have a destination in mind and she made a beeline right to her new little friend.<br /><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZkkTQmSUrZyjngXFre1lpzMQm4WwLk5DtwbLojqvexOruzEM57CowgfQDuZpk9IzZXuSWpqTFi8j8d-sTTBwvQ4Nu0-OiOTdSIyQl0lsqlmQ5lT9xMx7GetfLi73CJUtghfumENugi4/s1600/072.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZkkTQmSUrZyjngXFre1lpzMQm4WwLk5DtwbLojqvexOruzEM57CowgfQDuZpk9IzZXuSWpqTFi8j8d-sTTBwvQ4Nu0-OiOTdSIyQl0lsqlmQ5lT9xMx7GetfLi73CJUtghfumENugi4/s400/072.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725106591299622242" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RdEPLZskBu1yUCzxuNJe9x_wY3FlAcS5RK0Ik3lTtl1m68-6pB5iN4rCDmVka0EWLllVyKWtd-B9Uj-Ix77u839t_SqS3w1WUczbLX-Websr3DPouUNUdNlTI0YpxhSTijttaKdz2OU/s1600/074.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RdEPLZskBu1yUCzxuNJe9x_wY3FlAcS5RK0Ik3lTtl1m68-6pB5iN4rCDmVka0EWLllVyKWtd-B9Uj-Ix77u839t_SqS3w1WUczbLX-Websr3DPouUNUdNlTI0YpxhSTijttaKdz2OU/s400/074.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725106565026977234" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbqEbR00eryEwHmIL60iS4-ZtHDeYG4b4rmeFrE8TicGoxe9qIa_qRans6k6AJczDx6a40cvzv1nd8o9ka8IGt9pmpzkLFKhGIAciPASd0kIdYznlJtA4Nq7vo57vuCOXHJa9RLTtzmE/s1600/076.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbqEbR00eryEwHmIL60iS4-ZtHDeYG4b4rmeFrE8TicGoxe9qIa_qRans6k6AJczDx6a40cvzv1nd8o9ka8IGt9pmpzkLFKhGIAciPASd0kIdYznlJtA4Nq7vo57vuCOXHJa9RLTtzmE/s400/076.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725106556688391666" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br />And here he is. Just the right size to be a little friend to an 18 month old.<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vGRNU0k3RpkDNWLicN74UGmroqvfdryo57u3pnkHptZXyoojfR0hVsupdHy_lbLfBhAFtaZCZPiFAcHBG62rqGdQoKwsrxTyIhBWxqf-_vqXUvjAu3LK_C-itJcIWMV1L5Zq31D_GWQ/s1600/077.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vGRNU0k3RpkDNWLicN74UGmroqvfdryo57u3pnkHptZXyoojfR0hVsupdHy_lbLfBhAFtaZCZPiFAcHBG62rqGdQoKwsrxTyIhBWxqf-_vqXUvjAu3LK_C-itJcIWMV1L5Zq31D_GWQ/s400/077.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725106542665403362" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br />"Oh, aren't you a cute little fellow?"<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSU9niG7JFlcvBhGhSn9yG12pP18X8cBrVm2_syB_ksifkSptEnb3vOupjR7yvjRoe8t5u7dgEk8lMUeyladOf4LnMENdy53wkf7XEHWkKt026nUZjSFW-lwCLdbmNUU_i_1A2yIMtEgI/s1600/078.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSU9niG7JFlcvBhGhSn9yG12pP18X8cBrVm2_syB_ksifkSptEnb3vOupjR7yvjRoe8t5u7dgEk8lMUeyladOf4LnMENdy53wkf7XEHWkKt026nUZjSFW-lwCLdbmNUU_i_1A2yIMtEgI/s400/078.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725106534075415698" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br />She likes to kiss her friends....<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9m5Z1YJNgloztPa6ILvmMOH66EhilMgCpRcIv0X7XbeWikRtNxxvSredpMH_fjzDD94VmkX-WhZUIXay0cMxzZQxnWDTm5QqHtdOw1__ggKQdzSgIV3-MPdOfljTGvj0eEgRgllWUZM/s1600/079.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9m5Z1YJNgloztPa6ILvmMOH66EhilMgCpRcIv0X7XbeWikRtNxxvSredpMH_fjzDD94VmkX-WhZUIXay0cMxzZQxnWDTm5QqHtdOw1__ggKQdzSgIV3-MPdOfljTGvj0eEgRgllWUZM/s400/079.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725106057979063842" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">and again....<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mLdQ4LN4bz4og6GeMB2OKbwh8bVD2UmyrxspAUugSOok6PF7O79iURhmyHPrqalSFiouT8sDk60nNQcpa9_AW5RS3lU1FTMyCCZ3Nr5H9QmxvgsU_NJigM0beN4J6iQUJmVVUJPECJw/s1600/083.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mLdQ4LN4bz4og6GeMB2OKbwh8bVD2UmyrxspAUugSOok6PF7O79iURhmyHPrqalSFiouT8sDk60nNQcpa9_AW5RS3lU1FTMyCCZ3Nr5H9QmxvgsU_NJigM0beN4J6iQUJmVVUJPECJw/s400/083.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725106050433649810" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Stepping back to see what he thinks of her little kisses....<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnf5Rg1C9XYZsReUcJkQfqIRq7iSXBpRaufEKRKJf7Dbpz4RjVVKut7FeyTVO2J-MS1kHtfkbdQEDPHJJ9j1rWeZon78tJOWjZxq_keAtDp8fj6jgXMbhqX_T9tNXsrQqsK7raHOul_pw/s1600/086.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnf5Rg1C9XYZsReUcJkQfqIRq7iSXBpRaufEKRKJf7Dbpz4RjVVKut7FeyTVO2J-MS1kHtfkbdQEDPHJJ9j1rWeZon78tJOWjZxq_keAtDp8fj6jgXMbhqX_T9tNXsrQqsK7raHOul_pw/s400/086.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725106040448601730" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">and going in for another one for good measure.<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdv8e49qqO7-A1ScX_NsEzMc8_9hWEpDJSHou8mm838Q5HhqvDE5PH6Ro0FuxuxOXc0bsUHo6syWGH0KceiAZxki_5DvwmjZcWYqwqDjsf7BTJ2HTsp6hU2e1-_WOrNdM72VeS-C5lvuM/s1600/088.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdv8e49qqO7-A1ScX_NsEzMc8_9hWEpDJSHou8mm838Q5HhqvDE5PH6Ro0FuxuxOXc0bsUHo6syWGH0KceiAZxki_5DvwmjZcWYqwqDjsf7BTJ2HTsp6hU2e1-_WOrNdM72VeS-C5lvuM/s400/088.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725106033157417906" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">He's a good little friend and doesn't mind wet baby kisses, AKA drool. It seems he doesn't even mind<br />when she decides that his honker would make a great little handle.<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_mPfYKc_lhJthuThQTtxNRwV5cCs_8tGVui326vGVrtVTc5wxyOxB6M87Hnxo4JRZlsMG-uzbWZ_Z2kiWA5FD6nLb5SBJd3z7HvL7atRRqY27jTvaatdypatCQrA6TWlS80UfAKJlrs/s1600/090.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_mPfYKc_lhJthuThQTtxNRwV5cCs_8tGVui326vGVrtVTc5wxyOxB6M87Hnxo4JRZlsMG-uzbWZ_Z2kiWA5FD6nLb5SBJd3z7HvL7atRRqY27jTvaatdypatCQrA6TWlS80UfAKJlrs/s400/090.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725106022119477202" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">She held on to his nose for quite some time while she picked up sticks and various other debris.<br />He was so very patient and stood perfectly still.<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCnkJJPatLbAvn2I3uM3LA1Rw_SnMh-u3Cd0Nkd197RqflbRtPHOit99HxjQBlYa9MJNjmWWln-lWP5d8yJGiS7M6Y1gtiFPVSMhL9AOdg0pBXCpSsda_ycfbI-iPGyfaVt7BfrbBlag/s1600/092.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCnkJJPatLbAvn2I3uM3LA1Rw_SnMh-u3Cd0Nkd197RqflbRtPHOit99HxjQBlYa9MJNjmWWln-lWP5d8yJGiS7M6Y1gtiFPVSMhL9AOdg0pBXCpSsda_ycfbI-iPGyfaVt7BfrbBlag/s400/092.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725105522212556818" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br />She even switches hands...she's ambidextrous like that.<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOApvJr65R0CMVbiaT4xEsoYfOj8c_g2Ib8HJpk_5r3TANdbPIwcFdW3jLgHwfO_ZrQ_TjGSH5oVfogSbeflLPefx4s1gtMTjA4swcp2befoRGNTHYqCyj6LY4175ykeRI1urSof3fwk/s1600/095.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOApvJr65R0CMVbiaT4xEsoYfOj8c_g2Ib8HJpk_5r3TANdbPIwcFdW3jLgHwfO_ZrQ_TjGSH5oVfogSbeflLPefx4s1gtMTjA4swcp2befoRGNTHYqCyj6LY4175ykeRI1urSof3fwk/s400/095.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725105505618218290" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Yes, being a friend to a wee one is rough stuff. </div>tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16359944931272497413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101744748855435979.post-18888577000530346292012-01-01T15:29:00.009-05:002012-01-01T16:41:14.900-05:00K's Room Makeover, Pt 2<div style="text-align: center;">Now, for part 2 of the Room Makeover. Things to note first, K's room is small, but she's packed a lot of her personality into the room. We've pretty much let her pick everything out. Some things she knew exactly what she wanted and some we've discovered along the way. Or sometimes she knew kind of what she wanted, but didn't know where to get it or exactly what it would look like. So, I'll show pictures and share a little of her thought process....or just how it was thought out.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ready for a lot of pictures? Let's open the door....</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcheTVF34gMwUTMJox8Lwy8wcNdjsKo6p6Mgeh0bHF0T-J4303ZcAJdCoxnwWIzreJEGr1tSVtYW0EVGpiGEac0YFRbMU9B1kGj3fwSNNd4ZfkoBznsDiCOW9ysP21Uj6XyQV2fhYAvRI/s1600/051.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcheTVF34gMwUTMJox8Lwy8wcNdjsKo6p6Mgeh0bHF0T-J4303ZcAJdCoxnwWIzreJEGr1tSVtYW0EVGpiGEac0YFRbMU9B1kGj3fwSNNd4ZfkoBznsDiCOW9ysP21Uj6XyQV2fhYAvRI/s400/051.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692764056772985762" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When you open the door and look straight ahead this is what you'll see. K's family picture collage and a vinyl quote that I picked up for her for Christmas. You can also see two of the three colors she picked for her room. She chose a dark brown, a green and a blue. She said it was like the dirt, the forest and the sky.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaDcQySr3-KoHpOz__mNbpkyVu4MGK16JRW_JlefbsM6QPkKXonobuyI4Xt8FT-r10qA1R0y7nzB3G8UnfQ0x5LolnMCLZTJteMO-Me143lX_I0Xu6Nog86uil18uVXCOGAS3u-6QgMM/s1600/034.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaDcQySr3-KoHpOz__mNbpkyVu4MGK16JRW_JlefbsM6QPkKXonobuyI4Xt8FT-r10qA1R0y7nzB3G8UnfQ0x5LolnMCLZTJteMO-Me143lX_I0Xu6Nog86uil18uVXCOGAS3u-6QgMM/s400/034.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692765459756104642" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For this wall, she took the three framed postcards that she had hanging in her "old" room and put them in black frames. Then she took some actual photos and a couple of calendar pages to finish the grouping she wanted. Her grandma took the picture of the hawk in the middle.<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1ccfm82YBHLq-eJI2649j2tJSjBCjDOB6BrZNAYbUpiNt-tdWXmKzosGWzrr4a37xGhOSVlgzbSPXWSDfTD_PuatROd7cAaPgX4v_-Q7c0FYXjPkIyxBkxjttpMlrI5HK9K6btehxGM/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1ccfm82YBHLq-eJI2649j2tJSjBCjDOB6BrZNAYbUpiNt-tdWXmKzosGWzrr4a37xGhOSVlgzbSPXWSDfTD_PuatROd7cAaPgX4v_-Q7c0FYXjPkIyxBkxjttpMlrI5HK9K6btehxGM/s400/004.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692767373541994930" /></a><span style="text-align: center; "><div style="text-align: center;"> The birdhouse hanging was another added touch. She loves birds and likes to keep bird feeders right outside her window so she can sit and watch them. So, it only made sense to add some inside bird decorations. This one has a little bluebird watching out the opening.<span style="text-align: left; "> </span></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here we step back so you can see the whole wall and her bookshelf. All of her furniture is from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">IKEA</span>. The blue flowerpot is waiting for the perfect plant. She's still researching that. </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA13j5pUdw4II6Y5HPr7SrdkWSyP6RJbBIMT2sE7Izl56vDhR9OMoZopjGg-Rrg9QdSQwCLkFKld6u4QmxTQn_FE7t-ksRpqFQCxBKwA1VmIWgfbrLOPlh1otVSbIlyhbxwQuSOfQJKhQ/s1600/007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA13j5pUdw4II6Y5HPr7SrdkWSyP6RJbBIMT2sE7Izl56vDhR9OMoZopjGg-Rrg9QdSQwCLkFKld6u4QmxTQn_FE7t-ksRpqFQCxBKwA1VmIWgfbrLOPlh1otVSbIlyhbxwQuSOfQJKhQ/s400/007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692767549333394578" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mike built a shelf above her windows years ago. It was originally white. So we pulled that down and Kristin painted it black. She likes glass bottles, so she's been keeping her eyes out for different ones. These bottles have been found at various yard sales. The empty space on the right is about to have a neat project on display. I'll share that tomorrow in the final installment.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg24bzYlMIZT1bjSNz7h7XUr87hXUwmsUAWi-731vNOC1zUDd2P1PhZ8tlLnlTFnT6v45kgaej3-To-Ec8YAxBy3cTXuz15-Eb609CtA9wAbXKWHNXeFYH9_v7MbLFDJZkVwdyk55QcXok/s1600/012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg24bzYlMIZT1bjSNz7h7XUr87hXUwmsUAWi-731vNOC1zUDd2P1PhZ8tlLnlTFnT6v45kgaej3-To-Ec8YAxBy3cTXuz15-Eb609CtA9wAbXKWHNXeFYH9_v7MbLFDJZkVwdyk55QcXok/s400/012.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692768282631775458" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Now, if you remember from a picture of her old room, she had a white shelf with pegs and ladybug paper on it. Well, that wouldn't do in the new design. So, they pulled the pegs out and Kristin learned to fill the holes and sand them. <br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2QGceTn1KFlFG3Mae0Kc1C8X4gNaSg8PLeY4pXTvukjDbBBm12Lla-9uJ486JKDN5bWY8EGbGV2d1nabj63DgHq8IZlfwHsaM2TEQa8cIljlP5qqe6_sbZ_lU-7nA66uPLufjz1jm_g/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2QGceTn1KFlFG3Mae0Kc1C8X4gNaSg8PLeY4pXTvukjDbBBm12Lla-9uJ486JKDN5bWY8EGbGV2d1nabj63DgHq8IZlfwHsaM2TEQa8cIljlP5qqe6_sbZ_lU-7nA66uPLufjz1jm_g/s400/003.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692768508754248242" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Then the shelf was painted black and we put cork board on the back. There was a seam from the cork board, so she picked out a ribbon to cover it. I think it turned out rather well.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKme9Z2sPV0PHpmXtlsFBnlXpKZQI3jk8Jhy8pmZ_If-QtWTZyqG63rTGHQsDmaMwa3YrX96c7lfLcUpRoNs7AJp3Pgb55vvg6KiI7s9b8pxyQqu68hw5WGvyF5dhDrW3MiGW_csy0s0Y/s1600/059.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 378px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKme9Z2sPV0PHpmXtlsFBnlXpKZQI3jk8Jhy8pmZ_If-QtWTZyqG63rTGHQsDmaMwa3YrX96c7lfLcUpRoNs7AJp3Pgb55vvg6KiI7s9b8pxyQqu68hw5WGvyF5dhDrW3MiGW_csy0s0Y/s400/059.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692768290568003682" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">On top of the shelf you see a mason jar with rocks and fake flowers. That was one of her inexpensive projects. She also made one for the top of her dresser.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSLJxoCdqI8kCw_bihS04MLGELNJBKFTyydZKZnqS_lfl17uozEyi-SFeZeOjUPSWFnJLf-sFBsSpAd6F1qcMHcf2BHf7ALdxd6v4agpwrd2sahGJhwIY6cdNX-PEPt6hIZxKQG6gAvc/s1600/027.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSLJxoCdqI8kCw_bihS04MLGELNJBKFTyydZKZnqS_lfl17uozEyi-SFeZeOjUPSWFnJLf-sFBsSpAd6F1qcMHcf2BHf7ALdxd6v4agpwrd2sahGJhwIY6cdNX-PEPt6hIZxKQG6gAvc/s400/027.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692768275943221586" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Now, we'll step back and look at it from the doorway. Her desk gives her a great view of the birds at her feeders. One of the features she really liked about her dresser was the mirror that flipped up and the jewelry tray. She can close it for more flat surface, but she likes the mirror up. I can't blame her!<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzXqsWHgX2F5VA5t80UBI7VXgjK0pHZ7kk9mqlxKXzBMLauB0KA_W3LoU1EkUQ9SX9n18SFE7RC9jLqIYq84Eo8B3dMmJ_WbzgGv2I5vB998DtaMy60JdCcv3RHobDG5EREJA6PUEfPQ/s1600/030.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzXqsWHgX2F5VA5t80UBI7VXgjK0pHZ7kk9mqlxKXzBMLauB0KA_W3LoU1EkUQ9SX9n18SFE7RC9jLqIYq84Eo8B3dMmJ_WbzgGv2I5vB998DtaMy60JdCcv3RHobDG5EREJA6PUEfPQ/s400/030.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692768270113038722" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For our last view, we walk in the room and turn to look at her bed. So much to talk about here. First off, K knew that she wanted some posters of animals that you could find at Yellowstone. We had no clue what or where...but we were looking for affordable. We had done some looking online and I had to remind her to be patient and that her room may not be done in two weeks. Well, just a few days later we went to Bass Pro Shop to look at camping stuff. We walked right by a section that had canvas photos of wildlife. Jackpot!! For around $20 each, we picked out two which were pretty much exactly what she had envisioned! How perfect was that?</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZp0eiBsyHhceapskVeqRl1SKLxE_YTMxBYNWLfN-_7_qcrUkVH0Z1FBlCK4fhwtmhv1fn62CKYh5yJmmgkqlUzuB18XWKdBFGPGMhUZfiUWdDqty89sow-EStl8k0m-2w3PDXLiNMls/s1600/045.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZp0eiBsyHhceapskVeqRl1SKLxE_YTMxBYNWLfN-_7_qcrUkVH0Z1FBlCK4fhwtmhv1fn62CKYh5yJmmgkqlUzuB18XWKdBFGPGMhUZfiUWdDqty89sow-EStl8k0m-2w3PDXLiNMls/s400/045.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692769411193800354" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Another tough piece to the puzzle was the bedding. We searched many places online for ideas and nothing really jumped out at us. I had picked up some really nice sheets a few weeks before, but that wasn't going to be enough! Again, we found ourselves in a store (this time Target) looking for something totally unrelated and walked right by the perfect bedding. We have the brown, the green and the blue and it has the requirement she had of having a "nature" design. It looks like she found this first and made the room around it.<br /><br />A week later, she found the bird picture (also at Target) that fit with her colors and love of birds. It was an amazing design project that just came together so easily. Now that months have passed, we still find a few things here and there that would just be "perfect". Sometimes we get it and sometimes we pass. In the meantime, she's enjoying her Yellowstone National Park room and being surrounded by all her special things.<br /><br />For tomorrow's post I'll share the newest updates in her room.</div><div style="text-align: center;">She has a few photos and decorations that she needs Mike to put up and has that little project that we're working on. I'll also share her idea she came up with to solve a little problem in the room. I imagine that will be completed sometime in the spring.</div>tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16359944931272497413noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101744748855435979.post-26628353777362872412011-12-31T08:36:00.006-05:002011-12-31T10:13:02.050-05:00K's Room Makeover, Pt. 1<div style="text-align: center;">This past year K decided that she was due for a more grown up room. Her room still looked nice, but it had been that way for over 7 years and she associated it with being a little kid. She was after all turning 12 this year. Fortunately for her, we decided that yes, this would be the year of the K room makeover. As an added bonus, her American Heritage Girl handbook had a badge for Interior Design. This was a cinch for K to complete, because she had the new look all mapped out in her head. We did this back in April and May, so I apologize for just getting to sharing it now. Honestly, though she has been adding little elements to get it "perfect" ever since! The photos will share the transformation. Since there was a lot of detail, there will be a lot of photos and I've divided the post into three parts!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">First, we need to look at a few snapshots of the "old" room.</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1A9f2noRgsqsyJDxj-K_RgBmDvvrlI2AFt8P9FfbTT6jMbfMtV4rM44SUbIPx7axS-mfabGZraygrRhsJMauHbwf1HWSV31mXtsJBK0zrNPl876dDMqjFzZJMQLeSJ3e0yHD6af9mPYw/s1600/bedroom5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1A9f2noRgsqsyJDxj-K_RgBmDvvrlI2AFt8P9FfbTT6jMbfMtV4rM44SUbIPx7axS-mfabGZraygrRhsJMauHbwf1HWSV31mXtsJBK0zrNPl876dDMqjFzZJMQLeSJ3e0yHD6af9mPYw/s400/bedroom5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692290840483434146" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Over the years, the toys and toy bins were swapped out with a small antique desk.<br /><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk9J0uG8t70p8cHdI1AIz51Qvvo8TH-3qYYx8EQB2cU5XLhh-_LFJQCAiRo_dPs4qof9MPrp7J2r73V4ONpcc0-EAvwhSttsDw-QpY0zkTYvZe-PUc_a2nyQs0xgx9sXRPxO1_XwxBpPc/s1600/bedroom4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk9J0uG8t70p8cHdI1AIz51Qvvo8TH-3qYYx8EQB2cU5XLhh-_LFJQCAiRo_dPs4qof9MPrp7J2r73V4ONpcc0-EAvwhSttsDw-QpY0zkTYvZe-PUc_a2nyQs0xgx9sXRPxO1_XwxBpPc/s400/bedroom4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692290843055231282" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">These framed postcard pictures would actually be the inspiration for the "new" room!<br /><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7PbxfaN-mX3_0C1SBud3ehhFUVhenQQPs_lBEdoUUWwAsZ3kqOSXfUw8RZutgnbRm9fo-WGebHld2jj_rMXNpriZ4pAZHLVrvsj0eSdbfmDf_-jFzssHNOYhgtc1a4Bcr1E7DWaBRTyg/s1600/bedroom2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7PbxfaN-mX3_0C1SBud3ehhFUVhenQQPs_lBEdoUUWwAsZ3kqOSXfUw8RZutgnbRm9fo-WGebHld2jj_rMXNpriZ4pAZHLVrvsj0eSdbfmDf_-jFzssHNOYhgtc1a4Bcr1E7DWaBRTyg/s400/bedroom2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692290837531250354" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I told you the room was designed when she was much younger!<br /><br />Now, before we look at the new shots let me explain a little about the whole makeover. This was pretty much a total makeover. The theme was Yellowstone National Park. She wanted something that was earthy and would remind her of nature, especially National Forest type animals. She desperately needed a new bed and she asked for new furniture. That was chosen from IKEA to keep it affordable so that we could do everything she wanted. For paint she picked out three colors. Yes, three colors. Scared me...but she had a vision.<br /><br />She learned during the whole project that sometimes you just need to keep an eye out for inspiration and for pieces that will fit your vision. You just never know when the right thing will come along and help tie the room together. I'll share examples of that in tomorrow's pictures.<br /><br />She also learned that sometimes you can make things that will help decorate your room and add a personal touch to your room. Best part, inexpensive projects were chosen!! We'll look at a few of those later.<br /><br />Lastly, she learned that not everything has to be done at once. Over the past few months of her living in her room, she's discovered some needs or touches that would really be nice. We've bounced around ideas and have come up with some good solutions and just need to wait for a few extra dollars and time. They aren't expensive projects by any means, but with the holidays here we've put it on the back burner for now. I'm sure I'll be sharing more pictures before Spring. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Tomorrow we will look at her "new" room, but I'll give one sneak peek.</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXN-hGfAAnY57P6-Fg0Xt7BHJMRqIBpjnfkSbj56Smhq2h3JlTeUbMIaDG-S0Jz3WR0nIKv1n2bCwOXveSRPDIN8lF53xpr70n8FIKiQ3LY-2SYhrx03o_ZkVhwj0ZVEk3XmmJtQZ6gk/s1600/019.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXN-hGfAAnY57P6-Fg0Xt7BHJMRqIBpjnfkSbj56Smhq2h3JlTeUbMIaDG-S0Jz3WR0nIKv1n2bCwOXveSRPDIN8lF53xpr70n8FIKiQ3LY-2SYhrx03o_ZkVhwj0ZVEk3XmmJtQZ6gk/s400/019.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692294774068498546" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Here is one of her personal touch projects. She made a sign for her bedroom door using a little chalk board, small river rocks and a white pen all from the local craft store. It fits the theme and gives you a clue about what you are going to walk into. You can also see a glimpse of two of the three colors and she's sitting on one of those "special finds" that pulled the room together. Can't wait to show you the whole thing tomorrow!!</div>tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16359944931272497413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101744748855435979.post-26502291325446350722011-10-12T13:17:00.003-04:002012-05-15T22:13:11.238-04:00Edible School<div style="text-align: center;">
The one thing that I really enjoy about schooling is being able to take different avenues to reinforce information learned. This can be done many ways. One example would be taking a field trip to a historic site that you just recently read about. I love how this brings the lesson on paper to life. Fortunately, we live in an area that is close to so many opportunities to use this particular avenue. Another would be perhaps learning about an artist, looking at their work and then attempting to recreate their work or style. It may not look like the original, but it's often a true masterpiece and the child gains an appreciation that just reading wouldn't have conveyed. </div>
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While those all bring a richness to the education process, I'd have to say one of our favorites would be heading to the kitchen to make something edible that somehow ties into the lesson. This often means dessert for everyone. Of course, it is not always a "sweet", but those are certainly the most popular!</div>
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Here is the latest...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpu5p23JfYzh1NBHnfdhWDX1CEP-ff643RmSLMkZ-iunwjM1aupA3knGIfrbdZKTbQ8vonsfGlCRK9u1rXIIm2x0ukdFt7z1PfBa273ZdNEeIlsW9uH9wujaaruuTka-yegWGUqbkhy8/s1600/021.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662657951922755218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpu5p23JfYzh1NBHnfdhWDX1CEP-ff643RmSLMkZ-iunwjM1aupA3knGIfrbdZKTbQ8vonsfGlCRK9u1rXIIm2x0ukdFt7z1PfBa273ZdNEeIlsW9uH9wujaaruuTka-yegWGUqbkhy8/s400/021.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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An edible bird nest complete with grass, twigs and mud.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjrCzmOo0gsWYoVm6BgHEHzAVSmv69xLBBUtmKGp9uHZXAyddvfaSwh903qY_0XUkozUBymzwjFGjtzgLurFGBLxyHdIy3ir_wdJmWq2vtEf4mXMer2MvwIOl3SEUCK77MZ4jD4VKVx0/s1600/028.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662657945693903378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjrCzmOo0gsWYoVm6BgHEHzAVSmv69xLBBUtmKGp9uHZXAyddvfaSwh903qY_0XUkozUBymzwjFGjtzgLurFGBLxyHdIy3ir_wdJmWq2vtEf4mXMer2MvwIOl3SEUCK77MZ4jD4VKVx0/s400/028.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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A little fruit to represent bird eggs....and to make the whole thing healthy!<br />
Yea, right!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABZ7yJgURQvPsEQCfWWUPueRrld_2F2XoWqKfs2BwVJvZMcthTLC_r1t3mBDWZyEndSRDEl_-fGwMjBm6RBrKJmiMmegfERFrRmeNF3xDvMJ8I0m1rJD-Lwz3aOcuRWvfS78gMp5L0W8/s1600/030.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662657933117293138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABZ7yJgURQvPsEQCfWWUPueRrld_2F2XoWqKfs2BwVJvZMcthTLC_r1t3mBDWZyEndSRDEl_-fGwMjBm6RBrKJmiMmegfERFrRmeNF3xDvMJ8I0m1rJD-Lwz3aOcuRWvfS78gMp5L0W8/s400/030.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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Nope, she's not a ham at all!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsdIxGncX8GIoagZgLmoBAw-16ahCVS4bWUxgE3N4fQYilw122uoCrPbz3kpG0ReSVmb6qePyXWE45ZMrcBbU05Yj1ZjLtrO8p4bc6c6UdvBgssLoOueImHyL7Cr0VvdDe51IpgckNAE/s1600/031.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662657924298759730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsdIxGncX8GIoagZgLmoBAw-16ahCVS4bWUxgE3N4fQYilw122uoCrPbz3kpG0ReSVmb6qePyXWE45ZMrcBbU05Yj1ZjLtrO8p4bc6c6UdvBgssLoOueImHyL7Cr0VvdDe51IpgckNAE/s400/031.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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Enjoying the lesson!</div>
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How to make your own bird nests:</div>
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Grass - Shred 2 large Shredded Wheat Biscuits into a bowl<br />
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Twigs - add 2 cups of chow mein noodles<br />
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Mud - Melt over low heat 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1 cup of peanut butter<br />
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Mix together. Place the mixture, divided into three piles, on wax paper. (you can make 4 if you need them or make a bunch of mini ones) Form each pile into a nest. Refrigerate until hardened. Add grapes to represent eggs and serve. <br />
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FYI: K says one whole nest (we made 4) was too much to eat at one time. </div>tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16359944931272497413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101744748855435979.post-40020861765547546962011-10-11T13:17:00.003-04:002011-10-11T13:56:43.736-04:00Why English Will Have to Wait<div style="text-align: center;">We've recently returned from a much needed two week vacation. We were out of town from September 16th to October 1st. Our homeschooling began early in August and we worked extra hard to get ahead. I knew the week before we actually left it would be futile to even attempt any traditional lessons. Instead our lessons that week were more on the line of how to plan, pack, clear out the garden, and budget time. Being the 'smart mom', I knew also to allow us the week AFTER vacation to get back into the routine. We had groceries to buy, clothes to wash, things to put away, spaghetti sauce to make, people to visit, etc. It sure made what I call "re-entry into the real world" much easier!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yesterday was our first day back to our "regular" homeschool lessons. It went well and hardly seemed like we had been away for a month. We have naturally fallen into a pattern of Bible, History, and Science first. Then a break for brunch. (because neither of us really dig eating when we first get up) After the break we get back to Language Arts and Math and whatever else needs to be covered for the day.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, that's the "plan" of our schedule. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Reality?? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Not necessarily so...but that's alright with this homeschooling momma! </div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Why?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Because all around us we can find learning opportunities. I happen to believe that there is more to life, learning and schooling than what we find in our textbooks. So, today when K was eating her lunch she heard all sorts of noise and rustling out the front window. She discovered that our dogwoods were full of robins and a few other feathered friends that were snacking on the red berries. Being birds without hands and manners, they were just landing and jerking the berries right off the branches in a frenzy. Then, K remembered that she bought peanuts for the chipmunk and the squirrels. So, she grabbed the bag and made a large pile in the middle of the garden and a small pile on the rock. She sat down and waited. Eventually our little chipmunk stuck his head out of his hole and stared at her. She just sat still making little chirping noises and quietly telling him it was safe. He mustered up his courage and came out to start stockpiling for winter. K has been sitting outside for about 45 minutes just watching him and the birds. Quite the nature show for my animal lover and a front row seat to boot.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She was so excited, she asked me to join her. Which I did, with my camera, of course. </div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">click for the larger image...he really is rather cute!<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xTMvcUVrhzuP1K9oW0w0LFtznoH32E8zm94m7gYxlDFXg2pR2L3gNMaEgeTIVXFKCl6T9bGjL_XiRGKujpb22XHcx79jk8vcwpcIMjLtKUfp-1eJ50NGQCVxIz8zEzLRlnhd5n-nyiA/s1600/024.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xTMvcUVrhzuP1K9oW0w0LFtznoH32E8zm94m7gYxlDFXg2pR2L3gNMaEgeTIVXFKCl6T9bGjL_XiRGKujpb22XHcx79jk8vcwpcIMjLtKUfp-1eJ50NGQCVxIz8zEzLRlnhd5n-nyiA/s400/024.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662292238319839778" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OIq_ME_ixg84oJbAmZ_47Y09xyfEyts-osd0a5zzoVt84pMW9NheWAnviWsD-FrlBvpTJnXROyWmWbaXkCzMaDZN0RJrTSIlpzqejCb0KVWihv2ryM9AlPHs8hLlALi9cES7jZgI-V8/s1600/028.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OIq_ME_ixg84oJbAmZ_47Y09xyfEyts-osd0a5zzoVt84pMW9NheWAnviWsD-FrlBvpTJnXROyWmWbaXkCzMaDZN0RJrTSIlpzqejCb0KVWihv2ryM9AlPHs8hLlALi9cES7jZgI-V8/s400/028.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662292234091569650" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwakZO7_oT898GUm_twQ6DaG_pkPdCuWLeT17LsVBVaDsPdW7hqhKNucFCVQsGKOigjw7hDASRIrdmRC6ggm3UwYzg-hSWeD-VT1Am_P2UZb6MNnrvSaFYfkrDKislYuVyf2kYKGRE_uA/s1600/032.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwakZO7_oT898GUm_twQ6DaG_pkPdCuWLeT17LsVBVaDsPdW7hqhKNucFCVQsGKOigjw7hDASRIrdmRC6ggm3UwYzg-hSWeD-VT1Am_P2UZb6MNnrvSaFYfkrDKislYuVyf2kYKGRE_uA/s400/032.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662292226210159714" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmDXro_9hqAFogtBXB0CCCM0UEN4qQQB1HQ-BsUGBc8eCLj1oAhZ1N9fozw4Va0TR1_bVrCtPZjEFz2mMaF67KF6k1gORUHM6y-TIkAyUVItkb8JL_vbao98D-VZjfXNf35avOu9GvfA/s1600/033.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmDXro_9hqAFogtBXB0CCCM0UEN4qQQB1HQ-BsUGBc8eCLj1oAhZ1N9fozw4Va0TR1_bVrCtPZjEFz2mMaF67KF6k1gORUHM6y-TIkAyUVItkb8JL_vbao98D-VZjfXNf35avOu9GvfA/s400/033.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662292215990034258" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGl1mXiyC_sa8uWEc6rBcbGv08Id9P8HV49hFYd95-qIY6sixQc-UFxXzuJMitPqUdsHJdtMWTDMePRJrqB2M1bg9kgyv8gvGdpC-Oj4-WKAbh0YKWAPBDy9NUfd8PpurOreed4WFPvTA/s1600/037.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGl1mXiyC_sa8uWEc6rBcbGv08Id9P8HV49hFYd95-qIY6sixQc-UFxXzuJMitPqUdsHJdtMWTDMePRJrqB2M1bg9kgyv8gvGdpC-Oj4-WKAbh0YKWAPBDy9NUfd8PpurOreed4WFPvTA/s400/037.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662292212207519826" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">English will wait a bit longer than "scheduled", but it will get done. K will have a story to share with her dad and her brothers and whoever else will listen. In my mind, it was the better choice.</div></div>tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16359944931272497413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101744748855435979.post-617778817654534962011-07-21T13:16:00.004-04:002011-07-21T14:38:05.822-04:00Healthy Must Try Treat....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJkRVqzWK1viOzmMs_qytngQ7fH0n7eD0QwvkcNz2CNejDXlcD2RlXdArxdkBTkTQ3vxc1u8zylfnH0t4crjkHOdIbOL4Gs8ZEP914xzaWBIOEPXYiUXSmQXCPABm3x7Uog4YrJMZtUw/s1600/017.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJkRVqzWK1viOzmMs_qytngQ7fH0n7eD0QwvkcNz2CNejDXlcD2RlXdArxdkBTkTQ3vxc1u8zylfnH0t4crjkHOdIbOL4Gs8ZEP914xzaWBIOEPXYiUXSmQXCPABm3x7Uog4YrJMZtUw/s400/017.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631858893334686242" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">No, this isn't a bowl of sauteed kale! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's actually Kale Chips and they are so light and crispy...with a touch of saltiness. Such a simple recipe that I just couldn't resist trying. They even passed the Miss K test with flying colors! In case you didn't know, that is a HUGE endorsement. I do NOT expect this to make it past dinner. You know what? I'm excited about that! Have you checked out the <a href="http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/the-truth-about-kale"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">nutritional benefits</span></b></a> of this amazing leafy green??</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">To make life even simpler, I used the 10 oz bag of washed and trimmed Kale from Trader Joe's. (love that store) There were a few rib pieces to sort out, but mostly it was all good to go. <br /><br />Want the "recipe"? </div><div style="text-align: center;">(you can hardly call it a recipe, it's so easy)<br /><br />Click below for the details and put Kale on your shopping list!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><br /><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/melissa-darabian/crispy-kale-chips-recipe/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Crispy Kale Chips</span></a></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div>tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16359944931272497413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101744748855435979.post-5760751246557553622011-07-01T19:05:00.007-04:002011-07-01T21:52:37.444-04:00Getting Spoiled.....<div style="text-align: center;">So, my birthday is tomorrow. My plans?? Well, I actually made a point to make no plans. A weekend of doing nothing sounded good. My parents are at the beach and I told them not to bother coming home early for my birthday. My oldest son, daughter in law and grandbaby are also at the beach this weekend and I sincerely hope they have a wonderful time. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Really, this no fuss birthday weekend sounds so good. I'll do some garden work, maybe shop a little and probably read a bit. I'm sure there will be some time spent trying to get the skin on my legs to at least match the skin color on my arms....which isn't even all that tan. (but compared to my legs my arms look like I'm a bronzed goddess) I bet we'll even watch a movie or two over the weekend and grill something yummy. So, for doing nothing it sounds like plenty.<br /><br />The other day, J & T gave me an early birthday present since they knew they would be out of town. I was surprised because I wasn't really expecting a thing. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9XP2WNT9dJ6QHUWPPgUZYXRD9z2GyN0WBm7UcL8fMOXdagmVigvId0rYDu_IanUZOLRWLN5azJgHp0E0Ri4P3rit5dyq78CezmBsf_DAlT4CVCmAX3u6x5uTqF4SvShG3OheBrO0jnw/s1600/014.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9XP2WNT9dJ6QHUWPPgUZYXRD9z2GyN0WBm7UcL8fMOXdagmVigvId0rYDu_IanUZOLRWLN5azJgHp0E0Ri4P3rit5dyq78CezmBsf_DAlT4CVCmAX3u6x5uTqF4SvShG3OheBrO0jnw/s400/014.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624524533747846402" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our last name means rooster.<br />Now, I have a cake/dessert plate that matches our decor....in theme and color. I even have a recipe in mind to "break-in" my new plate. </div><div style="text-align: center;">(The recipe just happens to be dairy free/gluten free and all chocolatey.) </div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0tkf4TZzoSUu5zgqqD4c0jFOvUi_UOde2P1ae3RY6zVB6HHKjZoGqlsfE-ieBdUG9TttfSY_9Co96xX9j7vDhOrqtqL50wJ1eZEIBu09EbmANCls3vLWo3zU1Djy0idMVp86rwEEWsGU/s1600/012.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0tkf4TZzoSUu5zgqqD4c0jFOvUi_UOde2P1ae3RY6zVB6HHKjZoGqlsfE-ieBdUG9TttfSY_9Co96xX9j7vDhOrqtqL50wJ1eZEIBu09EbmANCls3vLWo3zU1Djy0idMVp86rwEEWsGU/s400/012.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624527071100703538" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Like I said, this gift was unexpected and really I didn't expect any more "unknown" presents. I had already given my mom a specific item to get me and I planned to spend some birthday money getting two more things. (all three items have me excited but would probably cause quite a few women to roll their eyes since I'm not a bling type of gal.)</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Imagine my surprise when Mike got home today and changed into comfortable clothes and said, "Are you ready for dinner?" Considering that I hadn't even gotten off my chair to start the meal, I thought that was an odd question. So, K started laughing and told me that we were going to....<br /><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsQPeD7qACFSq7IYYMDApblTQ8wf6wju9WpOc-fPi9M-RiCVVClcqvVgw4jqIOZl9_wOES8wuHRSyYf0jmzFJ9MsS9pszEwQtRUzz92vVv9H5t3xs3tZOX16lXiBMwHADNbzyUALMZd0/s1600/019.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsQPeD7qACFSq7IYYMDApblTQ8wf6wju9WpOc-fPi9M-RiCVVClcqvVgw4jqIOZl9_wOES8wuHRSyYf0jmzFJ9MsS9pszEwQtRUzz92vVv9H5t3xs3tZOX16lXiBMwHADNbzyUALMZd0/s400/019.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624524525455666162" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Well, that was music to my ears! For one, as much as I love cooking I really can't stand cleaning up after it. Secondly, there are times that a good steak just really hits the spot and I was feeling the need for some iron. Let's just say no one needed to ask me to move to the car more than once. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">However, on the way to the door I found more gifts.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hlZqxZidRv4gHattXZJ1Xq-Rd0xDTJzXosLuKsJbIlRFIHAtkmEiLGF1ngLYkAASVNTxmg3lgXuGQAow2B71T357WThoGIGuuK8oc0-AVP1MjIzMzMYW-L5hmEcafj9tGNkXL-iNuqs/s1600/018.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hlZqxZidRv4gHattXZJ1Xq-Rd0xDTJzXosLuKsJbIlRFIHAtkmEiLGF1ngLYkAASVNTxmg3lgXuGQAow2B71T357WThoGIGuuK8oc0-AVP1MjIzMzMYW-L5hmEcafj9tGNkXL-iNuqs/s400/018.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624524526768363970" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Yes, I do LOVE flowers! </div><div style="text-align: center;">All varieties of flowers of all colors. </div><div style="text-align: center;">So, these made me smile. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>However, </b></div><div style="text-align: center;">next to the flowers was a gift wrapped package.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I unwrapped the box with absolutely no clue as to what could possibly be inside.<br /><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>WOW</b>, this was a REAL shocker! <br />They got me!! </div><div style="text-align: center;">All this conspiring behind my back took place over the week. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I live with some seriously sneaky people...<br /><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXm257LtVLcdi7KCsTSveL9Z6cowSqfojudVVwywEbT5r1iqfOXsrl_2ujNJqSHglIqZfJXRbnFR9v8eQwfuheyOWrlC6Wlgs4ufaqZAnugDNK6fr0JA3Z-hCfh_GmHf9osBUSDlQLXc/s1600/027.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXm257LtVLcdi7KCsTSveL9Z6cowSqfojudVVwywEbT5r1iqfOXsrl_2ujNJqSHglIqZfJXRbnFR9v8eQwfuheyOWrlC6Wlgs4ufaqZAnugDNK6fr0JA3Z-hCfh_GmHf9osBUSDlQLXc/s400/027.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624524523101530434" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >Happy Birthday to ME!!</span></span></b></div>tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16359944931272497413noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101744748855435979.post-74128320386747420112011-06-20T22:35:00.002-04:002011-06-20T22:55:06.909-04:00Officially Summer<div align="center">I have a bowl that was given to me last year for my birthday. It's a regular bowl...not very big, not over the top pricey....BUT it makes me smile. It speaks to me. (whatever that really means!) So, maybe it doesn't say actual "words", yet somehow whenever it catches my eye I hear a little voice in my head whispering " Be Happy". </div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2ofIdhljRVSpoL8t5IjjvqqNtuC1IiKpthwCtDhnmw5g1qEiUp0BssQE3EwzSQO9Kn6zDTiVKFAbeyiPkzaEr34QZ3XTbmQJY3MdpU98UYmFIEBGwazj80Pomq1n0MfZGyt7hxKzYgc/s1600/012.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620496578280948626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2ofIdhljRVSpoL8t5IjjvqqNtuC1IiKpthwCtDhnmw5g1qEiUp0BssQE3EwzSQO9Kn6zDTiVKFAbeyiPkzaEr34QZ3XTbmQJY3MdpU98UYmFIEBGwazj80Pomq1n0MfZGyt7hxKzYgc/s400/012.JPG" /></a><br />Do you know what makes my smile even brighter?? What makes me 187 times happier? </div><br /><br /><div align="center">When I look in my bowl and see this......<br /><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JyRKS1Pae91Tnje58Joem914_0cLWhxLFeW-8Am_E3aCHJR5x50MlMwEobbviQ3xBr53YHw74ptXmcoBETEmhmS1zyspJw1D8aDJbkWhUGozq3zgZn_HdnXW61M-r_k7ZyZhVN3jD2U/s1600/014.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620496581488571682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JyRKS1Pae91Tnje58Joem914_0cLWhxLFeW-8Am_E3aCHJR5x50MlMwEobbviQ3xBr53YHw74ptXmcoBETEmhmS1zyspJw1D8aDJbkWhUGozq3zgZn_HdnXW61M-r_k7ZyZhVN3jD2U/s400/014.JPG" /> <br /><p align="center"></a><br />Oh yeah, baby! Summer is officially here in my backyard!!<br /><br />I can hardly wait until my bowl looks like <a href="http://momofjstk.blogspot.com/2010/07/it-has-begun.html"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>this</strong></span></a>.<br /></p>tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16359944931272497413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101744748855435979.post-50670207821456285572011-06-14T19:25:00.004-04:002011-06-14T19:46:54.889-04:00Knowing what you're eating....<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nME1ueSiYDeQNwBQxT3zwf5XW4lpJ5v93vu9Cn6lDtiaUXe2Gj4erQA_0CT1cuwhrtKGt8AIOfdDc7sGeV4yn11nX4Z9z_g3uMtbLjbWmE67ILbkJOkZGDS0Ok1o5MlZOL1YQk7Gp3U/s1600/011.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 283px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618221533232633618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nME1ueSiYDeQNwBQxT3zwf5XW4lpJ5v93vu9Cn6lDtiaUXe2Gj4erQA_0CT1cuwhrtKGt8AIOfdDc7sGeV4yn11nX4Z9z_g3uMtbLjbWmE67ILbkJOkZGDS0Ok1o5MlZOL1YQk7Gp3U/s400/011.JPG" /></a><br /><br />We just had one of those yummy "can name all the ingredients" meal. I love serving those kind up for the family! </div><br /><br /><div align="center">Tilapia was drizzled with olive oil and baked with lemon slices, salt and pepper. Peas were picked just minutes before and quickly sauteed and then I just added some garlic. <a href="http://momofjstk.blogspot.com/2011/06/6-recipes-that-scream-summer-to-me.html"><span style="color:#009900;">Black bean salad </span></a>with veggies and a lime dressing was made this morning. Coleslaw (cabbage, carrots and celery) made without mayo has dried cranberries and almonds added for flavor and added nutrition. Fresh fruit was just washed and served...no added sugars. </div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">No gluten or dairy in sight. No mixes or overly processed stuff. No drab single colored meal.<br /><br />Yes, it was my kind of meal!<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">So, what's on the menu at your house? </span></strong></div>tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16359944931272497413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101744748855435979.post-22223125070880150112011-06-07T21:25:00.005-04:002011-06-07T22:16:43.646-04:00Getting Excited About Harvest 2011...<div align="center">It's that time of the year again! All the vegetable plants are safely in the ground, the sun is warm and the days are long. Woohoo!! We were late getting the summer veggies in the ground this year because I underestimated my <a href="http://momofjstk.blogspot.com/2011/05/who-knew.html"><span style="color:#33cc00;"><strong>spring harvest time</strong></span></a>, but they seem to be taking to the dirt like a duck in water.<br /><br />Speaking of water....I wish it would rain every once in a while. It was all kinds of wet around here until I planted one week ago. Then, <span style="color:#ff0000;">BAM</span>, the waterworks from the sky shut off. Personally, I don't see why it just can't rain every night from 1 am to 4 am. Yep, that would do the trick! Sure wish we could arrange that. For now, I'm spending my evenings in the garden watering and weeding. Hopefully soon, I will add harvesting to that list. Of course, it is awfully peaceful and quiet in the garden...</div><br /><br /><div align="center">Hmm, maybe I don't need the rain!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615661908093608802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0A3NrrakUcEeJ97jcDx4kfqNmvT-NOhr05joE-ZSf3tp8diMQ42xfU8bJ_B4ygRQFg7k00HJIt5XK_MpxaH1vGshllaDnuNbN-iBKeXRKJA-jzwLHdUhgpwcf0608ECN2J4lGBs1pZk/s400/035.JPG" />My oregano has grown bigger than I ever imagined. Need to look up recipes using oregano! Have any to share?<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQotnTL1DXyz3YIv6KHKzSS2QMoMCZgbP9WUmcM-ZHOu1oB3dGsarm_nFw5sWAQddS5WFVmWbfgaiEMuE650AV-vjXU3gRudN_mGZjuUdedS3nw9uvApC3ztdDc22o3V6o29pdFajHQjM/s1600/027.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615661899600647250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQotnTL1DXyz3YIv6KHKzSS2QMoMCZgbP9WUmcM-ZHOu1oB3dGsarm_nFw5sWAQddS5WFVmWbfgaiEMuE650AV-vjXU3gRudN_mGZjuUdedS3nw9uvApC3ztdDc22o3V6o29pdFajHQjM/s400/027.JPG" /></a> We have at least 4 different pepper plants this year. I see signs of peppers on all of them.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWyp24Vu9ZViaqJQi12rIr5qhThp5obu4-nNT1K1doofKOil8afD6_A5gx13-3lVQKlk4AaivkfMFyn7kE4JK79V8lVLYb8mwSEs95D8b9ydlSC_mSfJINzEzbmWf6E7_2K3lV8mz0ipA/s1600/025.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615661888553418178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWyp24Vu9ZViaqJQi12rIr5qhThp5obu4-nNT1K1doofKOil8afD6_A5gx13-3lVQKlk4AaivkfMFyn7kE4JK79V8lVLYb8mwSEs95D8b9ydlSC_mSfJINzEzbmWf6E7_2K3lV8mz0ipA/s400/025.JPG" /></a> I just love when cucumbers grab onto things. It's so cute. I know these will be coming out my ears soon. They usually do really well, here.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlF34eZbimX4iHn7ndxPhG8ZW2nXgNJkMVRo0wwjoQcFiaj44XaSNJ7yo-yScWMwhsMDUZ5W-wGHoa-qcqyS3v2uxShn9sGaAEWc6m6zMY_5HRoTWymmXaF1GToUbW1rudUMPKNlHrm8/s1600/021.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615661435633089858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlF34eZbimX4iHn7ndxPhG8ZW2nXgNJkMVRo0wwjoQcFiaj44XaSNJ7yo-yScWMwhsMDUZ5W-wGHoa-qcqyS3v2uxShn9sGaAEWc6m6zMY_5HRoTWymmXaF1GToUbW1rudUMPKNlHrm8/s400/021.JPG" /></a> See those tomatoes already growing! Yum! The two in the back are sweet 100's. They should be called sweet 1000's, because they produce UNBELIEVABLE amounts of yumminess.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GxZMRR7nRe5MXW9Hhwnesx8W1mBIqLidcldbMpBzhq_K7y0Vcq_Rl7YFj_xEMn9F-Kj692l_FP3jwcnH4gdt0-Kddx8X5Gkoc8Ty_c2PpXjArANvmIyFBVa1v9yD8SkW15P97_yHVHY/s1600/015.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615661431444336354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GxZMRR7nRe5MXW9Hhwnesx8W1mBIqLidcldbMpBzhq_K7y0Vcq_Rl7YFj_xEMn9F-Kj692l_FP3jwcnH4gdt0-Kddx8X5Gkoc8Ty_c2PpXjArANvmIyFBVa1v9yD8SkW15P97_yHVHY/s400/015.JPG" /></a> Just trying to be patient and waiting til mid July.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEWdwxAQPJrwldJZnSy8n0i-A12ickMmrMZ7egc09z7fqdwovasBw8rYPLqyGKWhS7LhUB0lvsD4vqIw46KlStFYWSZ-KShRZ4ReEupxT_16Qs9EiN7Nzh0AHqwjxHbtL4B6tTn49eH0/s1600/013.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615661422423262258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEWdwxAQPJrwldJZnSy8n0i-A12ickMmrMZ7egc09z7fqdwovasBw8rYPLqyGKWhS7LhUB0lvsD4vqIw46KlStFYWSZ-KShRZ4ReEupxT_16Qs9EiN7Nzh0AHqwjxHbtL4B6tTn49eH0/s400/013.JPG" /></a> These peas are so delicious. We picked a bowl yesterday and ate them all.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihFz2vrumy1bxEEdAZB5qI2DyqgR0X6skfJqCsuolR7kcAi5pJhlD_oeTgLNyx2w5OBh58qX0QWd1G6Y6Y2oqJ8LGzzKkitqWzWZzWbor26GW_TSd4-3GMCMlNkdT0cA8s_jho7N10-g/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615661417989686098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihFz2vrumy1bxEEdAZB5qI2DyqgR0X6skfJqCsuolR7kcAi5pJhlD_oeTgLNyx2w5OBh58qX0QWd1G6Y6Y2oqJ8LGzzKkitqWzWZzWbor26GW_TSd4-3GMCMlNkdT0cA8s_jho7N10-g/s400/005.JPG" /></a> I had to pull this one because it was too crowded. Well, that and I wanted to see how they were coming along. It actually looks like a carrot!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJgtHhHdFReDsV7lTOgAtanseCumgRNvLgdAHw2nJolrHCFKq_RooHyaG-hohq8_oGRahSHCDC7EBe4PaQ5udkw52dv7YNcJG8II8qLrnpYQr3OeOuJ-Kug2CVNo6fGlIqA1LV3OQqUc/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615661409055926322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJgtHhHdFReDsV7lTOgAtanseCumgRNvLgdAHw2nJolrHCFKq_RooHyaG-hohq8_oGRahSHCDC7EBe4PaQ5udkw52dv7YNcJG8II8qLrnpYQr3OeOuJ-Kug2CVNo6fGlIqA1LV3OQqUc/s400/002.JPG" /></a> No garden is complete without the squash section.<br /><br />We have other herbs and veggies growing, as well. I'll share more as they grow and I discover new ways to prepare them.<br /><br />How is your garden going this year? What do you do when certain vegetables overtake your kitchen table? </div><br /><div>I'd love to hear!<br /><br /></div></div></div></div><br /></div>tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16359944931272497413noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101744748855435979.post-6045308821467076522011-06-05T21:08:00.007-04:002011-06-05T23:49:34.086-04:00What I was looking for.....I am going to get a little wordy here, but I really can't help it. I'm about to share about a wonderful organization that we've had the privilege to be involved with and honestly I'm being brief here tonight. Click on any of the <span style="color:#ff0000;">RED</span> underlined words and it will take you to their website where you can learn more.<br /><br />My older boys were involved in scouts from a very early age and all three went on to become Eagle Scouts. I loved the Boy Scout program and always wished that I could find a similar organization for Kristin. Yes, I know the Girl Scouts are out there....but for various reasons I just wasn't comfortable with being a part of their organization. So, we never joined. About 8 years ago, I read about an organization that had begun a few years earlier that sounded exactly like what I wanted. Alas...there were no groups in my area.<br /><br />A few years ago a friend, who has boys in Boy Scouts plus a younger girl, mentioned her desire to find a good program for her daughter. I shared with her the group I had read about. She looked them up and still.....no program in our area. Fortunately for me, this friend never lost hope and kept checking the website on and off. One night last August, she called me up barely able to contain her excitement. YES, finally a new group was going to start that wasn't too far from us and WE were going to join!<br /><br />So, this past school year, Kristin and I joined the <a href="http://www.ahgonline.org/"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>American Heritage Girls</strong></span></a>. This program has been everything I wanted for her. She has met new friends, been encouraged to grow in leadership, gained confidence, learned and earned many badges, been exposed to new experiences and has found that she loves more things than she thought. This past year she went on her first camping trip, paddled her first kayak, built her first fire by herself, led her first Color Guard, performed in her first campfire skit, and for the first time had opportunities to speak in front of an audience larger than her family. There were many other firsts too numerous to mention, but all were positive and in one way or another helped my little girl mature.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ahgonline.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=20467"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Badges</strong></span> </a>are a part of the AHG experience. They are broken down into 6 frontiers (Our Heritage, Personal Well Being, Family Living, The Arts, Science and Technology, and Outdoor Skills) and the girls are encouraged to work in all 6 areas. This way they are exposed to various topics and skills and often find that they are interested in something that they really didn't know about before. At the same time, they can work on badges that they already know they like, but are encouraged to explore a little further and to share that knowledge with the other girls. Kristin worked hard on her badges and set goals for herself. She had a notebook with all the badges she wanted to work on and a little schedule of when she would spend time on them. Later this week, I promise to share (with pictures!) her work on the Home Decorating badge. Wait until you see her project. I think you'll be impressed. I know, I was!!<br /><br />AHG is a <a href="http://www.ahgonline.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=20478"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Christian based organization</strong></span> </a>and they do not hide that fact. There are opportunities for the girls to work on religious awards for their denomination, they are also encouraged to serve in their community and some of the badges even have the girls dig deeper into their faith and their relationship with the Lord. Meetings begin and end with girl led prayer and the leaders have all signed a statement of faith. Like I said, they do not hide it.<br /><br />The girls move up <a href="http://www.ahgonline.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=20386"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>levels</strong></span> </a>according to their grade/age. At each level they have an opportunity to earn what is called a level award. Normally, the girls have 2-3 years at each level to earn this award. (they receive it as they are bridging up to the next level) However, this was the very first year for this troop. Amazingly though, several girls still decided to work extra hard to earn this award. Kristin was one of those girls. She had to earn at least one badge in each of the 6 frontiers that I shared above. She also had to perform service hours, attend special events, visit the older girls' meeting and she had to plan and carry out a special event for her troop. Kristin joined up with one of her new friends, Rachel, and together they planned, organized, promoted, carried out and cleaned up after a Memory Maker Badge day for the troop. What an incredible learning experience for them.<br /><br />We are very proud of her accomplishments this year and I can tell that she is as well! Tonight was the Troop MD 1208's Court of Awards. As much as I love my girl and as hard as I work to help her learn and grow, I couldn't have given her that self esteem and sense of accomplishment on my own. This evening, she stood a little taller than her 5'6" body normally allows, she smiled a little wider than usual and she had a bit more confidence in herself as she received her badges, service stars, patches and Lewis and Clark Award.<br /><br />Like I said at the very beginning, I have so much more to share about this program, but then I run the risk of scaring everyone away with a super long post. Instead, I will just share along the way as Kristin moves towards her goal of earning the <a href="http://www.ahgonline.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21684"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Stars and Stripes Award</strong></span></a>. I have only great things to say about <a href="http://www.ahgonline.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=19406"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>American Heritage Girls</strong></span> </a>and would like to encourage everyone that has a girl....or knows a girl....to check into this program and spread the word.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center">Now, no more words.<br />Just take a look at some of our wonderful AHG girls enjoying each other, learning new skills and sharing a camping experience together.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwFzU63FJ_ApXAKRKl0bhQavaYjL43IQRPvlcI3tPIdhNgbmhrWWch_Cd5uv6sNk0CUt_2AN1m7-K-IWRcFA-YpndgE5uyF6qGNOL8Pl3J5Ce9Kr6b59FWbldqkUYximFofE9AburvV0/s1600/045.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614939005385872210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwFzU63FJ_ApXAKRKl0bhQavaYjL43IQRPvlcI3tPIdhNgbmhrWWch_Cd5uv6sNk0CUt_2AN1m7-K-IWRcFA-YpndgE5uyF6qGNOL8Pl3J5Ce9Kr6b59FWbldqkUYximFofE9AburvV0/s400/045.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUMRuQHZ9uhV1T4xeETtGKDuz-d7kBfWtWUt6NBtPtC4Pp6ZpFr4iNQ7grCG4K2saEi-zJW1lNww6yvCI97ioHBAFSVdxvc1DWzWqe-66AOp7heQQunMhrHg2-mfWnDloVS1dr0xMIzQ/s1600/027.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614938997650564658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUMRuQHZ9uhV1T4xeETtGKDuz-d7kBfWtWUt6NBtPtC4Pp6ZpFr4iNQ7grCG4K2saEi-zJW1lNww6yvCI97ioHBAFSVdxvc1DWzWqe-66AOp7heQQunMhrHg2-mfWnDloVS1dr0xMIzQ/s400/027.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKEaofDmBTeti2r2na59kPea4xqw_6d2UWxszlXgtd9_4FTh1bmerqrti9J-abAS39Z_kebrZI2MCXfAo5G6Kycy0Pjz8DW63Rmk4Xd_Imyr6jw2Aej8cnPJQ45x0th-KdWbJJeGzY3Y/s1600/051.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614935781291357170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKEaofDmBTeti2r2na59kPea4xqw_6d2UWxszlXgtd9_4FTh1bmerqrti9J-abAS39Z_kebrZI2MCXfAo5G6Kycy0Pjz8DW63Rmk4Xd_Imyr6jw2Aej8cnPJQ45x0th-KdWbJJeGzY3Y/s400/051.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovaxZgUm1OJroRqQYWwwzapsNSDhrOTU1e_erVYoMHHFniQnXc3j6JK2XEWPKsVq4jTFxwDSETcZyOLJI-GETn5_ZNcmD75IE2jhuLaz-Ox8x_7Ev0ykKaw1GQ49IbPadnlucwSv_h24/s1600/035.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614935777863776338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovaxZgUm1OJroRqQYWwwzapsNSDhrOTU1e_erVYoMHHFniQnXc3j6JK2XEWPKsVq4jTFxwDSETcZyOLJI-GETn5_ZNcmD75IE2jhuLaz-Ox8x_7Ev0ykKaw1GQ49IbPadnlucwSv_h24/s400/035.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOFwdnP-W2Dh0Wr0exWVhJIOsQ5LAkWKPribVh5o4jrRjZ9e-4CLV8DynOdJ0KvvtoQXtollmWamDYy7anoIRwMOCNN4D4QCNES9GuSP3dHKpfxqkTttAMc101XtDvc1cmzDDjN7SlyA/s1600/032.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614935771144604770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOFwdnP-W2Dh0Wr0exWVhJIOsQ5LAkWKPribVh5o4jrRjZ9e-4CLV8DynOdJ0KvvtoQXtollmWamDYy7anoIRwMOCNN4D4QCNES9GuSP3dHKpfxqkTttAMc101XtDvc1cmzDDjN7SlyA/s400/032.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSiCxOy_qpV2QhyphenhyphenEMhguokA57uI7UsxYRw5ltsP6gh5E6ELxxzikokNO2h0h3GLa7Q3X3_D1hgpz6gMVLPPMOjoEB5n6gC5AYs4PQLY2J-aDzjmDKG7IVH9Uuef6xjhP_5oXL00yf0kd8/s1600/080.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614939018160355730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSiCxOy_qpV2QhyphenhyphenEMhguokA57uI7UsxYRw5ltsP6gh5E6ELxxzikokNO2h0h3GLa7Q3X3_D1hgpz6gMVLPPMOjoEB5n6gC5AYs4PQLY2J-aDzjmDKG7IVH9Uuef6xjhP_5oXL00yf0kd8/s400/080.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLIHkwme1NoZBAnkFGc3VFpMt4ibfaM5xd9eLH4NzgZcTDCdeLU4GPq3ZGHR0z7mMcHUAVoIk9n0bkb1fiSWG1xHvhlKTQUJLZIKhdqnPlS1img0zadYos4GtXajDXFDrPvdHRwnsvmg/s1600/065.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614939008371028930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLIHkwme1NoZBAnkFGc3VFpMt4ibfaM5xd9eLH4NzgZcTDCdeLU4GPq3ZGHR0z7mMcHUAVoIk9n0bkb1fiSWG1xHvhlKTQUJLZIKhdqnPlS1img0zadYos4GtXajDXFDrPvdHRwnsvmg/s400/065.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3p0xlbVImKUAqL4LFK2XTtIu84Zf8C3Rs7Ziv5Tw7SlYb6YsjuRl4Goq7zr7J1YLdQVcQ0Gg08BEtVhVuidbbQPM8PSjsDST5cGbe5ZgfStJwL-Aam4BYZ4yXMJIXLIcnIYC4twDqHk/s1600/067.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614935795269692018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3p0xlbVImKUAqL4LFK2XTtIu84Zf8C3Rs7Ziv5Tw7SlYb6YsjuRl4Goq7zr7J1YLdQVcQ0Gg08BEtVhVuidbbQPM8PSjsDST5cGbe5ZgfStJwL-Aam4BYZ4yXMJIXLIcnIYC4twDqHk/s400/067.JPG" /></a>tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16359944931272497413noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101744748855435979.post-27306797645455383752011-06-02T16:12:00.005-04:002011-08-01T16:05:06.158-04:006 Recipes that SCREAM Summer to MeI find that there is quite a difference in the types of recipes I use according to the seasons. I love to take advantage of fresh ingredients that are in season as they have a much better taste AND they are more affordable. Who really enjoys what they call "tomatoes" in the grocery store during the winter? Another thing that dictates the types of recipes I consider is the weather. Let's face it...cooking a soup that takes 4 hours isn't quite as appealing in the blistering heat of August as it is in the bone chilling frost of February.<br /><br />Last night while we were eating dinner, I pulled out a notebook and started quizzing the family on recipes for the summer. What were they looking forward to eating? For some reason, I had a mental block going on and was feeling all kinds of stressed out just thinking about menu planning and grocery shopping this week. After dinner, K and I pulled out my big disorganized recipe binder and went through pages of favorites that had been stored (stuffed) between the cover. Now, I'm not so sure why I had the temporary lapse into freak-out mode, because there were some yummy recipes in there calling my name and waving the summer friendly flag.<br /><br />Lucky you, I decided to share my top 6 'Can't Wait' to make again Summer friendly dishes!<br /><br />6. <a href="http://www.easytobeglutenfree.com/salads-and-salsas/185-black-bean-salad-with-lime-dressing"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Black Bean Salad with Lime Dressing</strong></span></a><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>:</strong></span> This one is so incredibly good. I like to make a big dish of it and then we pick on it for lunches and even snacks during the week.<br /><br />5. <a href="http://www.examiner.com/weight-loss-in-national/biggest-loser-jennie-o-thai-turkey-wraps-recipe"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Thai Turkey Lettuce Wraps</span></strong><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">:</span></strong></a> My whole family loves these so I have to triple if I even want a chance of having leftovers for lunch! I do actually serve this during other seasons, but they are great for a summer meal when it's so hot you don't want anything heavy. I usually make some rice and cut up some fresh fruit, like pineapple, to go along with the wraps. Oh, and if you have a Trader Joe's close by, look for their <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lenore-m/313373920/">Thai Lime and Chili Cashews</a>. They add some extra wow to this dish and I'll admit we don't stick to the amount called for in this recipe!<br /><br />4. <a href="http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2010/05/quinoa-taco-salad.html"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Quinoa Taco Salad</span></strong></a><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">:</span></strong> This recipe never fails me. I add the black beans, avocado and tomatoes. This is another one that I like to double and then use the leftovers for lunch. I think I could make this weekly and be happy about it!!<br /><br /><br /><div align="left">3. <span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Hawaiian Burgers:</strong></span> Well, I don't have a link for this one, but the recipe is quick and easy so I'll share here.</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><strong>Hawaiian Burgers<br /></strong>2 lbs. ground turkey<br />1/2 tsp. ground ginger<br />2 T low sodium Soy Sauce<br />2 cloves garlic minced</div><br /><div align="center">2 scallions chopped<br />1/2 c. hoison sauce<br />2 tsp. sesame oil.</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">Mix together and form patties. Grill. Also, slice fresh pineapple into rings (or you can use canned) and grill them. Add a grilled pineapple ring on top of each burger. Delish!!</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left">2. <a href="http://glutenfreefix.com/cilantro-lime-vinaigrette/762/"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Cilantro Lime Dressing</strong></span></a><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>:</strong></span> While this isn't a dish, it is a dressing worth making anytime! Because of this very recipe we intentionally bought extra cilantro plants for our herb garden this summer. My 12 year old pretty much inhales this stuff and any salad it's drizzled over. (and that's a good thing!) I've even drizzled it on my rice and veggies before. </div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="center">And now for the number 1 recipe on my can't wait to make again and let the sun blaze down on me list....</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left">1. <a href="http://www.easytobeglutenfree.com/salads-and-salsas/208-pineapple-black-bean-and-rice-salad"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Pineapple Black Bean Rice Salad:</strong></span></a> It's on the menu for next week and I can hardly wait. You can eat this as a side or main dish. Throw a couple of ears of corn on the grill or maybe grill a few skewers of shrimp and let the feasting begin.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="center">So, what are some of YOUR favorite summertime recipes? I'm always looking for fresh ideas and maybe I'll even add it to my "a little more organized this yesterday" recipe binder!</div>tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16359944931272497413noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101744748855435979.post-36011382802558316422011-06-01T19:46:00.010-04:002011-06-01T21:03:18.102-04:00Leaving them out...<div align="center">Way back many years ago when I was a kid I loved visiting the library. I'd checked out as many books as I could carry each and every time. That's something that hasn't changed over the years and I find homeschooling helps feed that book monster living inside me. I've noticed that K seems to love the library as much as I do and frequently enjoys settling down with a good book. That makes her mama very happy.<br /><br />One of the curricula we use for school is My Father's World (which I cannot say enough good things about!!) and they encourage using the library to check out books relevant to what you're studying. They suggest putting them in a basket and have Book Basket Time when the kids just go and spend some time reading and going through the books. We use to have a basket, but lately we've just been putting them on a shelf. Consequently, I've noticed we don't seem to really spend as much time going through the books...and that is a shame.<br /><br />So, the other day I had K pull them out of their "hiding place" and put them right smack in the middle of the dining room table. And we left them there! (leaving a random pile of books scattered across a table is not something I normally do!)<br /><br />However, I noticed that when you leave them out....</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9GUDohF31MvGBjwmlxo0PyjHucqm_Coa_N0swxF8yxJVCYaARX_u9ikOzYbH33My86Cofqr6fRLm0eAk_qB9YQixblESL6vINJkcEy3lVaYK-nJ9rxvn2PWEUgtsfpVa1ihZCumwYTM/s1600/082.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 284px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613405027905817106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9GUDohF31MvGBjwmlxo0PyjHucqm_Coa_N0swxF8yxJVCYaARX_u9ikOzYbH33My86Cofqr6fRLm0eAk_qB9YQixblESL6vINJkcEy3lVaYK-nJ9rxvn2PWEUgtsfpVa1ihZCumwYTM/s400/082.JPG" /> <br /><p align="center"></a>...more of this goes on without you having to ask.<br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZNDqaNsDL_zdvV5JftUI18Xqq1Es6XUdSiwzPSY4q45DG1SrXR3SbUV6P4Oaj39ToM5BIQ2lu0S4ywqAgoQ_Ka8fTdvbLnmdQTLokVwrZssaWYRmNrjpCIVPHDyFF1fs2OiOINKaQIk/s1600/052.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613405319408806194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZNDqaNsDL_zdvV5JftUI18Xqq1Es6XUdSiwzPSY4q45DG1SrXR3SbUV6P4Oaj39ToM5BIQ2lu0S4ywqAgoQ_Ka8fTdvbLnmdQTLokVwrZssaWYRmNrjpCIVPHDyFF1fs2OiOINKaQIk/s400/052.JPG" /> <br /><p align="center"></a>K would take her lunch out to the table and before I knew it her nose was buried in a book or two for the next hour. I don't mind that disruption to a school "schedule" at all.<br /><br />In fact, she wound up reading a lot more than I expected.<br /><br />Good informative books like these....</p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6t2vtZV38-ZEyKUZ292hHiwSB5I7gdaN1RXzldakttwChXa82i5ALVbD5I_Zb2e7af5bSk9qIka4h7R6umRNXtOR2K7Q8kZFqEtVsPqFS0OJMG1Un2V5MymqSm2qB_0xKX9zyOTKW6Q/s1600/081.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613406653159492690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6t2vtZV38-ZEyKUZ292hHiwSB5I7gdaN1RXzldakttwChXa82i5ALVbD5I_Zb2e7af5bSk9qIka4h7R6umRNXtOR2K7Q8kZFqEtVsPqFS0OJMG1Un2V5MymqSm2qB_0xKX9zyOTKW6Q/s400/081.JPG" /></a> (although I don't think I needed a book to know that!)</p><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7ysdsmQj1NoVGCowrXWTuPdOSW_z__w8xEpsJbFqSVigsWupIuF6te35He7jQDialXKgO3oZRYzgxgP9Swu5aPyHub5AVRLc0T7E-36Ochb59R9k9L1iCMoc2zvVeycEPXfwjAXEsP8/s1600/080.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613406650741675090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7ysdsmQj1NoVGCowrXWTuPdOSW_z__w8xEpsJbFqSVigsWupIuF6te35He7jQDialXKgO3oZRYzgxgP9Swu5aPyHub5AVRLc0T7E-36Ochb59R9k9L1iCMoc2zvVeycEPXfwjAXEsP8/s400/080.JPG" /></a> Oh, yum.....not! K's review was both thumbs up.<br />She said it was about Japanese holidays and their traditional foods that they eat. It made her really start looking forward to Christmas! I'm going to have to go check out this book!<br /><br /></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613406222558732962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicS7zFylr1tZcAS-LLxNp_9e4x1o0GPcinIJwwW67w2eFUkOYD4pUEuw-SvLq9eU51uoj7HOprvySL4b6MO9-mK3b-5Tc8LKYQx0nnI_ebyoXja1QKuikmCqEYSNnIG_Ja00O6j02elUI/s400/079.JPG" /> <br /><p align="center">Lots of information in this book that pretty much enforced what we had just gone over. Don't you love it when that happens. Really helps them remember things when it's repeated in a different way.<br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNH97ZsRXACvOn70cfV8UgiNNJMNwQDto4AZ4SEGsGUWBXWTsE1v1JKSNCF_8cMCXw6kqVO3m3YuO_L2kOc35hshmKPpFGHIq7myWD8ml24PCyvXRxo5If9fD_FhmciSS3GIAKDvczJ8s/s1600/078.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613417612766205522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNH97ZsRXACvOn70cfV8UgiNNJMNwQDto4AZ4SEGsGUWBXWTsE1v1JKSNCF_8cMCXw6kqVO3m3YuO_L2kOc35hshmKPpFGHIq7myWD8ml24PCyvXRxo5If9fD_FhmciSS3GIAKDvczJ8s/s400/078.JPG" /> <br /><p align="center"></a>She found this one interesting....and gruesome all rolled in one.<br /><br /></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613406213597013970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHV5lfZmRSykiqOc-lhkFp9vL4m0koNc-gpOqUvKSwFK8ok4xmkaFjhhzEYwLCUniG3H_zSFX__fwbuepVeoEWZk1dpBTLLJeQDZts02iDxFFXUahqqtdQAEuDCEP6iD8Oe6yt_ngv5I/s400/077.JPG" /> <br /><p align="center">This one was a little rough, because she was reading it before we even talked about Japan's history. Reading about all the dynasties and trying to even GUESS how to say the Japanese names was a little frustrating. We'll review it after we've had a few more days under our belt.<br /><br /></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613406209706788306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvqifJQSizn9K8PYcf9XtCYWiwS6ifbRC3ztwH0HxNztjzSRT86uRBX9DBYQv1He9E8QPX28X2fvHEfgCdpCG3tOpLPbIVlMjX5Nux5o42SyaKKxafVYyurmriHgGjTIqr9swAQoI7mA/s400/076.JPG" /> <br /><p align="center">K says this story was very good and then she proceeded to tell me all about it.<br />I won't spoil it for you.<br /><br /></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613406206750078914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKnYHbSnKeUBPuwjbFFVX3gGLGMnOLLGfYb1PAbtJphGp9WqZXYvO3ZDZzIOS_ezW9Ot8IGhgq4Q-vqFNf_6rlQtmFzwCBBhJDa6lCdaXuR1ECrrL2slSypG9zH0RboJ-d1a1PGy6XNM/s400/075.JPG" /> <br /><p align="center">(again...I don't think I needed a book to know this! I do love their titles, though!)<br />This series happens to be a GREAT series. K has enjoyed the three that she has read. The other one was You Wouldn't Want to Live in a Medieval Castle.<br /><br />(note: I just went and looked at some more titles from this series...and now I'm going to go check the library system. Good summer reading material for my little history buff!)<br /><br />By the way, K has been quiet for the past hour. I called her to my computer to ask her opinion on a few of these books. She walked out here carrying the above book. Yes, she's been laying on her bed reading. (this mama heart is really gonna burst!) She reviewed the individual books I shared and recommends them all. I think I'm going to have to continue just...<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">...leaving them out!</span></strong><br /></p>tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16359944931272497413noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101744748855435979.post-3395562991268628262011-05-30T21:36:00.003-04:002011-05-30T21:56:53.284-04:00My gain...<div align="center"><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>The past few months K has found her interior design diva and redecorated her bedroom. I'm not talking about just slapping on a fresh color. This project called for the "WORKS". I'll be sharing that later this week...she did a great job!! One of the things to come out of her room was a small unfinished end table. We had intended to paint it to match her room, but never got around to it. She used it as her nightstand, but with the new design there was no longer room for it.</strong></span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>One day the little table was sitting in my kitchen area waiting for us to decide it's fate, when suddenly an idea popped into my head. I guess my interior design diva came out, as well. It's been transformed and is now doing exactly what I needed.<br /></strong><br /><strong>What do you think?</strong></span></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztjFZhZcWckq1OQstB9jsX-G51h5H5Orey6bKm9P9zDf3jVwIjzMXPPbs2GCN53x_mH1gsTJ3oV8-LJ1OmjJ9bNALitLn1hvw1deRH9oMDxpmKOVCFc_d1Cv3vHhO_H8V8Myb1lMgkCA/s1600/031.JPG"><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612691080569249266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztjFZhZcWckq1OQstB9jsX-G51h5H5Orey6bKm9P9zDf3jVwIjzMXPPbs2GCN53x_mH1gsTJ3oV8-LJ1OmjJ9bNALitLn1hvw1deRH9oMDxpmKOVCFc_d1Cv3vHhO_H8V8Myb1lMgkCA/s400/031.JPG" /></strong></span></a>tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16359944931272497413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101744748855435979.post-82184148481924073822011-05-29T20:44:00.004-04:002011-05-29T22:10:41.091-04:00Who Knew?<div align="center">I am not a gardener even if sometimes I pretend to be one. Pretending is very different than actually being a seasoned pro filled with all sorts of handy agricultural knowledge. I want to be that person, but my life is currently being filled with other sorts of knowledge and there is only so much I can take in at once! Maybe in my next season...for now, I'll just keep pretending. </div><br /><br /><div align="center">Sometimes, at least on the surface, it is hard to tell the difference between a pro and a pretender if you just give a quick glance. Sure, if you look at my front garden you might be impressed with my Hostas the size of small economy cars. However, if you thought about it, you'd know a real gardener would have already divided those babies and spread the Hosta love. I'll admit it. This pretend gardener is a wienie when it comes to actually digging in and breaking up my beautiful plants. Next year, I will have no choice....as several of them are beginning to overtake my dogwood tree. At least this summer, I can sit on my porch and gaze upon them as if I really had ANYTHING to do with their beauty. (more pretending going on here....)<br /><br />Where you would have really found me out was in my backyard, though. Last summer we had a successful vegetable garden and for the first time ever the beds were ready for some spring planting this year. So, I picked up some seeds at the local Lowes Hardware. There were seeds of the Pea, Lettuce, Radish and Carrot variety in my bag. Due to the weather being a little wacky and actually very cold late March, I didn't get them in when I had hoped. I have NO idea if they would have been fine or not....but again, I'm NOT a gardener. </div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">Radishes were very successful. Almost too successful. I only like to eat a couple of radishes...and I found that really no one else here really likes them. So, maybe I didn't need to plant a hundred or so...but they were very good for the pretend gardener ego. </div><br /><br /><div align="center">(Also, maybe I didn't really plant a hundred....or maybe I did.)</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><br />Carrots...well, WHO KNEW that they actually took so long to mature. I am going to have some success with them...but they are in the way of my summer planting and many of them are getting pulled early. Lesson learned for next year. It was exciting to pull them out and see little orange carrots....about the size of the skinniest little baby carrots in the baby carrot bag that you sometimes hold up and say, "AWW, look at this wittle baby one." Now, don't even PRETEND that you've never done that!</div><br /><div align="center"><br />Peas are now producing and are actually pretty yummy and sweet. We got our first handful yesterday and by the looks of things I expect we will have many, many handfuls. I think I might have even gotten this one right on the first try. Today we had to tie a few of them up to clear the rest of the bed for beans, but they are actually looking good. Even a pretend gardener can get lucky every once in a while.</div><br /><div align="center"><br />Now, about the lettuce. I can't say it wasn't successful. Hehe...but, I can say it was TOO successful. WHO KNEW that those little bitty seeds would produce more lettuce leaves then we could eat in the entire summer? K would go out and cut a bunch to fill a bowl for dinner. Before the week was over the spot was filled back in with new leaves. We've had some incredibly yummy salads this spring. Unfortunately for us, lettuce doesn't do well in the sweltering heat AND besides I needed the space for my beans. So, last night we pulled the lettuce. </div><br /><br /><div align="center"><br />By the way, if you're in the area and need some tomorrow....just let me know! I already invited my neighbor over last night and I told her to bring a big bowl. I still have about 6 gallon bags full in the fridge that need to be cleaned and eaten this week. </div><br /><br /><div align="center"><br /><strong><span style="color:#33cc00;">Guess what's on the menu this week!?<br /></span></strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMSU66ARCPczuEi8AjNZ1XXONwSnrn__E-HMv5ySqGwTMeRsAn0xk9GL88YZnuL8q3GYSTIpezZ95A4owx1V_XkBnhCaaApX5HLimXDpq8ElE7EKF5aJH7BSqFN-jHVk4uF3DvR2n17c/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612320603059645042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMSU66ARCPczuEi8AjNZ1XXONwSnrn__E-HMv5ySqGwTMeRsAn0xk9GL88YZnuL8q3GYSTIpezZ95A4owx1V_XkBnhCaaApX5HLimXDpq8ElE7EKF5aJH7BSqFN-jHVk4uF3DvR2n17c/s400/002.JPG" /><br /><br /><p align="center"></a>Just maybe I'll be a real gardener one of these days!!<br />Til then, I'm doing fine just pretending!!<br /></p>tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16359944931272497413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101744748855435979.post-33836449614333433652011-01-10T20:13:00.004-05:002011-01-10T20:32:07.410-05:00Back to the routine....<div align="center"><span style="color:#000099;">Well, it's a week later then I had hoped. However, today we got right back into our routine. After taking an unexpected extended break due to sickness on both ends of my "scheduled" December break, I was so looking forward to hitting the books with K, getting back to regular cleaning chores and cooking. Sure, I cooked during the past 6 weeks. It just doesn't seem the same though, if I'm not trying to schedule it around math, spelling and laundry. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#000099;"></span></div><div align="center"><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Now, while I must admit mentally it felt great to be back in the saddle, I just need to say....it's exhausting!! Morning came too early and it took hours before I really felt awake. Only to find myself ready for bed a few hours after that. Of course, I'm still up. My brain just went to bed. </span></div><div align="center"><br /><span style="color:#000099;">K did terrific. Now, she may try to deny this, but deep down<br />she really does like school!<br /></span><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#000099;"></span></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnfELP1VRRT1SZXA_opOIBgghrX50LJzvUmWQC1bhxXxkWUKIPUArEeg6lyDzfzF9YIBgfz1bT3vDe2fmLQ9Qzn8Zx2mxkoAHLWtz6la2Ny0203vSxV11_o8tpyCrEn8vEIq2_c7zdSc/s1600/015.JPG"><span style="color:#000099;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 304px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560732478507726082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnfELP1VRRT1SZXA_opOIBgghrX50LJzvUmWQC1bhxXxkWUKIPUArEeg6lyDzfzF9YIBgfz1bT3vDe2fmLQ9Qzn8Zx2mxkoAHLWtz6la2Ny0203vSxV11_o8tpyCrEn8vEIq2_c7zdSc/s400/015.JPG" /></span></a><span style="color:#000099;"> THE END<br /><br />PS. Don't tell her I said that.</span></div>tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16359944931272497413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101744748855435979.post-40581033584877699142011-01-09T11:26:00.007-05:002011-01-09T12:38:51.229-05:00Diving right in...<div align="center">With the holiday season just behind me and a nasty bug visiting the house, I was feeling a tad overwhelmed. I get that way when my little "non-routine" routine gets thrown out of whack. So, I found myself looking for some order to help me feel "right" again and my kitchen seemed to be the center of disorder. There was an incredible desire to attack and conquer the clutter. Possibly this was because I was desperately trying to stay out of all germ infested rooms and my kitchen was the safest! (there was no way I had allowed any sick person to touch anything in my kitchen) OR...maybe it had to do with the fact that I was determined we were going to eat healthier this year. That determination had me going to several different grocery stores and buying all sorts of healthy ingredients to make all the recipes I had found. With the hustle of the season, all those ingredients had then been stuffed into cabinets. Honestly, I had no clue as to what I had purchased, what I still needed, what was overstocked or what was running low. It was time to tackle the hot mess and I did so the only way I knew how and that was by diving right in, of course!</div><div align="center"><br />First step was to pull all food items out of the cabinets. I discovered that I had pasta in the tall black cabinet and in the corner cabinet. I had baking ingredients in three cabinets. I told you...a HOT mess!<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9oqm57bueU3MZ41bjH0BE8xRFP7VvmCfC7DD1Gyv3tw2pB2z8swTYekU7H98lepKPttWH22PHBeErtyRYZ7D_o56BATeiC0f6m3gW-7sJGqvKSsfuyM2sZT_N65tt2C0_1WEDp3qiK38/s1600/033.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560231263593622658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9oqm57bueU3MZ41bjH0BE8xRFP7VvmCfC7DD1Gyv3tw2pB2z8swTYekU7H98lepKPttWH22PHBeErtyRYZ7D_o56BATeiC0f6m3gW-7sJGqvKSsfuyM2sZT_N65tt2C0_1WEDp3qiK38/s400/033.JPG" /> <p align="center"></a></p><p align="center"><br />These containers were all holding little bits of stuff past it's prime. They will all be placed back into commission once they go through a little clean up time. </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDimG8xvb1sdm9AU2SrSlQrAypTysZu-S3OOerhNspnBp-nxeZzZRGvNqVbkF3ybDb_lNoSwzIJiXhuZPLklA1mI1ARL5olrrjjpjmyYqVpNYfT6Gr6SNDnulvlcT6dB3WxBd_g5vrF-U/s1600/017.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560230635150478274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDimG8xvb1sdm9AU2SrSlQrAypTysZu-S3OOerhNspnBp-nxeZzZRGvNqVbkF3ybDb_lNoSwzIJiXhuZPLklA1mI1ARL5olrrjjpjmyYqVpNYfT6Gr6SNDnulvlcT6dB3WxBd_g5vrF-U/s400/017.JPG" /> <p align="center"></a><br /></p><p align="center">It was time to get some containers labeled clearly, especially ones that I want to stay gluten free. </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMKo9VTMk2tONkpwlqNLN3v_GZNplCGFxcSDQxR1_wse14gEajhM0df5HNVYiLFFVqneAtSD5gbjIZsZHDm98S-6lZXK_oA4sIMPDOqMuLwPXaC3BBFLkIekKmBVpcepTX1E_GiyUXKU/s1600/019.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560230626489492338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMKo9VTMk2tONkpwlqNLN3v_GZNplCGFxcSDQxR1_wse14gEajhM0df5HNVYiLFFVqneAtSD5gbjIZsZHDm98S-6lZXK_oA4sIMPDOqMuLwPXaC3BBFLkIekKmBVpcepTX1E_GiyUXKU/s400/019.JPG" /> <p align="center"></a><br />Here are some of the goodies I purchased on my shopping spree. I have high hopes for the yumminess that will be cooked up with these ingredients. These are all now listed on my inventory sheet that will help me know if I have what I need next time I discover a recipe.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymvERdbv3LKpc8NXWBgZc14CdzDQG0w8ZDBUdleOBR0go1Ha6xMawV-eZDLtruT2LyOQQ4y8ORDkfHx7IAWSarXUSoPrSPhpleJIEtpoixj0UXsKSS2SCbCb5q-ub17jVD17isOnmmCU/s1600/021.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560230620073465666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymvERdbv3LKpc8NXWBgZc14CdzDQG0w8ZDBUdleOBR0go1Ha6xMawV-eZDLtruT2LyOQQ4y8ORDkfHx7IAWSarXUSoPrSPhpleJIEtpoixj0UXsKSS2SCbCb5q-ub17jVD17isOnmmCU/s400/021.JPG" /> <p align="center"></a><br />I had no clue that I was running dangerously low on one of my staple items.<br />That is something you do not want to find out just as you are making a quick dinner!</p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5SrSouOncxX8Z6C7a5Nnl6kcolaYly070TixrvbsGPLNQjJF5cGaZmZ5B-5yZby6tmYbEoSwAyHh96SLCFh9ASzbEoY9KRnZAZPCIynSnGN-Rg-9avtbMP2L2t0SKWfE8zBTDkmUpbU/s1600/024.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560230616703539554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5SrSouOncxX8Z6C7a5Nnl6kcolaYly070TixrvbsGPLNQjJF5cGaZmZ5B-5yZby6tmYbEoSwAyHh96SLCFh9ASzbEoY9KRnZAZPCIynSnGN-Rg-9avtbMP2L2t0SKWfE8zBTDkmUpbU/s400/024.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div align="center">I also discovered I was way overstocked on sugar. Since one of our goals is to cut the sugar consumption way down, I won't be needing to buy this for a while. Maybe we can make some sugar scrubs for bath time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLppsxQ6dOOsLFT09uPsgZy9L8IhaRJoBICGsQAprgxhs5s-b6Yczz0qbyuGoon03c88848nYqlnWTyPV6dIhXE-dDvLBV_mu2X1IEIqijTxI0WlSmC9KExQXMy9wk1GzJazCqDJgAobw/s1600/025.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560231044968789762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLppsxQ6dOOsLFT09uPsgZy9L8IhaRJoBICGsQAprgxhs5s-b6Yczz0qbyuGoon03c88848nYqlnWTyPV6dIhXE-dDvLBV_mu2X1IEIqijTxI0WlSmC9KExQXMy9wk1GzJazCqDJgAobw/s400/025.JPG" /></a><br />Having everything pulled out at once, allowed me to group similar items together.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5vmh04bAruCA5NS58Cs_vc9JXsPA56NMlN42hBJKFJehyphenhyphenQ8yZr0SP1F4osW9yi8HYVLW-nnLNRwTHuGQZwcyw9dIelCvACl3u0EUN9GYV1HJJkHIjlog7i0a6qE-jOLE85Y_qCiJdLw/s1600/026.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560231044473656722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5vmh04bAruCA5NS58Cs_vc9JXsPA56NMlN42hBJKFJehyphenhyphenQ8yZr0SP1F4osW9yi8HYVLW-nnLNRwTHuGQZwcyw9dIelCvACl3u0EUN9GYV1HJJkHIjlog7i0a6qE-jOLE85Y_qCiJdLw/s400/026.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Also, you want to take the time to consolidate if you can. I found two opened bottles of rice vinegar and it worked to just dump one into the other. I use it often enough, that I don't have to worry about it going bad.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7w_fjHDaM1gFIe4MMho8j6KEsnu85ToyuHZMeAckWdm42mHiXfC6qal6_q26h3TZKvC0Ltk0rBICWpoFC6XRUudiFOV2Y8mzXAgIrPf0-Ud9yF3PVXtcqSLDx_00llH4MosXuYy74vZ4/s1600/029.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560231036609898802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7w_fjHDaM1gFIe4MMho8j6KEsnu85ToyuHZMeAckWdm42mHiXfC6qal6_q26h3TZKvC0Ltk0rBICWpoFC6XRUudiFOV2Y8mzXAgIrPf0-Ud9yF3PVXtcqSLDx_00llH4MosXuYy74vZ4/s400/029.JPG" /></a><br />Now, it was time to start putting things back. This cabinet will look even sharper when I put those containers above to work in here. Right now, I'm just happy that I know what is in here and that the items are grouped together.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjK11Zeg_uv8sg69hTWh5gXzlyI5J5SxJvUknyslfWcfC8e-Tf1D8Lk1Hv1rwVi8RSs6ogu1Ooy4ccjE3sZZV7NkkHwBxN1NEXRMcNieAAGKMxAA559991jHzuzpxYeSkim0NTerOFvE/s1600/035.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560231034823325442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjK11Zeg_uv8sg69hTWh5gXzlyI5J5SxJvUknyslfWcfC8e-Tf1D8Lk1Hv1rwVi8RSs6ogu1Ooy4ccjE3sZZV7NkkHwBxN1NEXRMcNieAAGKMxAA559991jHzuzpxYeSkim0NTerOFvE/s400/035.JPG" /></a><br /><br />This was a big relief to get this cabinet stocked and to know that all pasta is together once again!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4oXr188VV0YgCW8bIRmO0awqNkBNvsvZMAPOb1oqeIOJlzex3RQFSDpORHHpgQcMRsumnvZczkz8rAAhPxB2Jb8XfSsWyEw5hbOtEEtBpmLpxpyoStglvjCBlkQvOh0IP0IL5Ogusr8/s1600/037.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560231593174105410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4oXr188VV0YgCW8bIRmO0awqNkBNvsvZMAPOb1oqeIOJlzex3RQFSDpORHHpgQcMRsumnvZczkz8rAAhPxB2Jb8XfSsWyEw5hbOtEEtBpmLpxpyoStglvjCBlkQvOh0IP0IL5Ogusr8/s400/037.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Putting this cabinet back together was probably the most satisfying. I was able to really make sense of what went into here. Also, by grouping things together I was able to eliminate the need for taking up space in yet another cabinet.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcsrbm1w83mIsqn7s4QCxXcszpN-T8XtFPyl3Cpnh1kLA12kstW8TpEYVQ1hOdA-Ppfjr-tjNMeaQR1SyViHlsV1LXW_17ULi_vCi8RMRRTX13H4t-xUQcD9AYwDAGtTpVTwvsb9ZMO4/s1600/041.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560231585983361314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcsrbm1w83mIsqn7s4QCxXcszpN-T8XtFPyl3Cpnh1kLA12kstW8TpEYVQ1hOdA-Ppfjr-tjNMeaQR1SyViHlsV1LXW_17ULi_vCi8RMRRTX13H4t-xUQcD9AYwDAGtTpVTwvsb9ZMO4/s400/041.JPG" /></a><br />Best part....I still have some growing room.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtbu3qXEBlbK4KQkL3K5ntOvTy6VsnKofnoh0hrkx10aFtdmMDztBgPg3xYPEHpCBBl__VONnu9yJH1KYGB0K7ap_zycNYpWmlIuy1A7UVuSej4mXzzyZf4Z32bBxSlyK9wNmltt3FQI/s1600/042.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560231578737705074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtbu3qXEBlbK4KQkL3K5ntOvTy6VsnKofnoh0hrkx10aFtdmMDztBgPg3xYPEHpCBBl__VONnu9yJH1KYGB0K7ap_zycNYpWmlIuy1A7UVuSej4mXzzyZf4Z32bBxSlyK9wNmltt3FQI/s400/042.JPG" /></a><br />That time spent in the kitchen really did help me gain a sense of control. I was able to make menu plans and grocery lists knowing exactly what I was doing. As we get rid of processed stuff in the kitchen, my goal is to replace it with more whole ingredients. I love knowing exactly what goes into the food we are eating. It's also easier to control my diet and keep unwanted gluten and casein out. </div><div><br />I plan to take a look at my kitchen again in the summer to see how far I've come in my quest to get rid of junk in our diet. I'll be sure to share here.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div><br /><br /><br /></div>tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16359944931272497413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101744748855435979.post-77632005858504392952011-01-06T11:10:00.006-05:002011-01-06T12:33:43.509-05:00Did you say...PLAN?<div align="center">So, we had a lovely holiday break and I was gearing up to get back to the routine. Oh, the lovely routine!! Even though for years I swore I had no routine...I've lately discovered, that what seems like my lack of routine IS indeed a routine after all! <--We'll talk about that another day. </div><p align="center"><br />Anyway, the beginning of a new month is usually only mildly noticed around here. I happen to notice the day, because it means a new month of food budgeting and that means grocery shopping day! This is normally a very busy day with trips to not one, not two, but three OR four grocery stores. We restock our supplies and then shopping during the rest of the month tends to be a much milder affair.</p><p align="center"><br />Now, the beginning of January is a much bigger deal. It's a celebrated holiday. Well, throw that in with my need to restock the pantry and my overwhelming need to get back to routine....and you probably get a pretty chaotic looking picture. (maybe even experienced the same in your home!) </p><p align="center"><br />Mike was off on New Year's Eve and we went out for a nice lunch with some family and then off to grocery shop. We hit Whole Foods and Trader Joes. With the new year and my food intolerance, I've decided to buckle down and serve more whole foods, more raw foods, even some vegan meals...mixed in with our meaty meals to keep a balance. For us, 2011 is time to back away from processed foods and sugar overload. I've been researching and have found so many yummy recipes and blogs. So, I was set and ready to get rolling. </p><p align="center"><br />So, shop we did. However, the cabinets were already stuffed with holiday food and leftovers galore. Being that it was New Year's Eve and we had made some plans for the evening, there was really no time to sort, clean out, or put any thought into the kitchen. Everything was just put away...out of sight. </p><p align="center"><br />Monday is always a good day to get back to routine, right? For some reason, it seems like we always designate certain days and months to do things....and MONDAY is ALWAYS the day to start something. (anything... Just start it on a MONDAY, whatever you do!!)</p><p align="center"><br />I know the fridge is full of fresh produce, the cabinets are stocked with special ingredients to create new foods for us to enjoy....and somehow I'll weed out the bad, old stuff later. Come on, Monday. I am ready to steam, roast, soak, blend, and whatever else it takes to whip this family into total specimens of excellent health. </p><p align="center"><br />That's the plan! Oh...did I just say....PLAN?? Have I not learned? </p><p align="center"><br />Well, to HECK with the plans, early Monday morning....12:10 AM to be exact.....a nasty little bug decided it was time to rear it's ugly little head. It's claimed 3 out of 4 in this house, while leaving my fridge full of fresh produce just sitting there.</p><p align="center"><br /><br /> </p><div align="center"></div><p align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 308px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 259px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559124997017588754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTk7b_3QZZZjPw1RHOgwdLuruJM7fZCcrwkfmdab8nWn7OOBVpoBAWVqxRfvbvWzbQeD8brRtExKJ-pOyrQ2UkVFaWJn73_KdmY2YUuylnHNLsHUHsvaZ777yydLzIWo8c5ybaquU6GPU/s400/tummy+bug.jpg" /><br /></p><p align="center"> Tomorrow, I'll share what I did with my "free" time. </p>tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16359944931272497413noreply@blogger.com1