daybook 2/28/2011

 
 

FOR TODAY  

Monday, February 28, 2011

Outside my window...

The girls were climbing on the round bales, but now they are supervising Valerie as she romps outside the corral.

The boys are playing a bit of football after watering the calves and hauling some wood.

We have blue skies with sunshine.  It’s about 33F (1C) which is 25 degrees warmer than it was seven hours ago!  We’re reduced again to just the remnants of snowdrifts.  Forecast is even warmer.

I am thinking...

about how to make it through the busy month of June ~ and all that is on The List before then.   So much to do…

I need to call the locker (butcher) to give them our order for processing our beef… before it’s too late.

I should have shopped a White Sale back in January, now that it’s March…

Yeah, about two months behind would be a conservative guess.

I am thankful …

~for my mom & dad’s confidence in their surgeons/doctors at Mayo West

~for the privilege of prayer

I am praying for...

... the Rettigs and the church in Prague ~ Ivana, Eva, and follow-up meetings in Pribram!

… the sale of my mother-in-law’s home

… Amber’s dad (more chemo coming)

… Diane and family

… Grant S.

… the broken marriages of J & S and R & K

… the W family

… Cinnamon, who is regaining her strength, but is still missing her deployed hubby

… my mom, scheduled for surgery March 2 ~ this week!

From the learning rooms...
We are officially on an early spring break  :-)

and trying to finish up reading The Story of the Ancient World.

The Computer Geek is reading Great Expectations for his upcoming research paper.

From the kitchen...

I heard “Yum!” when I mentioned pepper steak for supper, so I guess that’s a Go

I need to bake bread… manana ~ now that it’s beyond mid-afternoon

I am creating...

not much today.

I have a pile of flannel blankets ready to sew.  And next week I will begin the Battle of  the Tax Returns.

(which reminds me I need to finish updating the computer accounting)

I am going...

to finish vacuuming as soon as I publish this

I am reading...

Food Rules by Michael Pollan

I actually read the entire book yesterday in one short sitting ~ It’s a really quick read.

In a nutshell: “Eat food.  Mostly plants.  Not much.”

With realistic allowances:  Rule #64 “Break the rules once in a while.”

I am hoping...

to survive English research papers with my oldest three ~ Ack! the memories of my own unimpressive analysis of Mark Twain  :p

I am hearing...

the dryer rumble with load #2.  That’s all.

Around the house...

laundry load #1 is waiting to be sorted/put away.

The vacuum is waiting patiently for me to return to it.

Books  (always) ~ biographies of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Charlotte Bronte, Sarah Orne Jewett; literature guides to their works

Tim has been working to hook up the new water conditioner and softener and filter (edit for my brain lapse).

One of my favorite things...

Julie’s Baked Turkey Toquitos

Pondering these words...

There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man…

For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Mark 7:15, 21-23

A few plans for the rest of the week:

End of the month duties, dinner at church Saturday night, and more!

Here is a picture for thought...

  A year ago…

  Enough said??

 

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

 

Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord,

that thou fulfil it.

Colossians 4:17

~ Find more Daybooks at Peggy's ~

psssst! There's a great giveaway at Regan Family Farm :-)

The Regans have been blessed with a copy of Large Family Logistics to give away!  The author Kim Brenneman is like an old friend to me  :-)  She's been writing and sharing online for many years.  Finally it's all in one big, beautiful book. Her book is like her blogs have been -- full of practical help as well as straightforward admonition to manage our homes and love our families as unto Christ.  Whether you have many children or just one or two, you will find this book a worthy read.  You can read Kim's blog here.  And you can read Gina's excellent review of the book here.

And then don't forget to go to the Regans' to sign up for the giveaway!  She'll be choosing a winner Sunday night, so hurry!

mothers who pray

 

Mothers with courage; mothers who pray,

These are the kind the world needs today.

Mother who think, who study and plan;

Mothers who laugh as much as they can,

Having the gift that is better than money--

The habit of seeing that some things are funny.

Mothers whose faith never wavers or falters;

Mothers whose spirits the world never alters;

Loving the right and scorning the wrong;

Facing the problems of life with a song.

Mothers whose bravery transcends their fears;

Winning the battle with patience and tears;

Never submitting to weakness or sin---

Storming heaven's gates till the children are in.

Mothers heroic, not guilty of whining;

Hands graced with service and faces with shining.

Mothers of purity, virtue and faith,

Steadfast in life and triumphant in death;

Looking beyond the dark pathway of sorrow,

Seeking a home in God's joyous tomorrow,

Leading the children; pointing the way---

These are the mothers, the world needs today!

-Kathryn Blackburn Peck

 

I found this poem at A Wise Woman Builds her Home via Large Family Logistics ~ and you need to read Julie’s post too!  It’s time to pray more faithfully for our little and not-so-little ones!

What a fitting way to commemorate the birthday of George Washington, yes?

daybook 2/21/2011

 

FOR TODAY  

Monday, February 21, 2011

President’s Day in the USA, but my email service appears to be working  :-)

Outside my window...

Lots of snow melted, then we got a bit more overnight. 

We had a record high last Thursday ~ high 60s!!  Today It’s chilly and overcast, but no more snow  :-)  Temps below freezing is actually good in our little world.  We need the ground to freeze tonight so that Tim can load a critter on the trailer tomorrow morning… off to the butcher.

I am thinking...

how Good our God is.  In this crazy, messed-up world, it is good to know He is still in control.  Romans 8:28 is still God’s Word.

I am thankful …

for my children’s love of good music

for God’s provision each day, each year…

I am praying for...

... the Rettigs and the church in Prague ~ Ivana, Eva, and follow-up meetings in Pribram!

… the sale of my mother-in-law’s home

… Amber’s dad (done with chemo ~ off to Florida on a holiday!)

… Diane and family

… Grant S.

… the broken marriages of J & S and R & K

… the W family

… Cinnamon, enjoying her sweet baby girl, but she is still missing her deployed hubby

… my mom, scheduled for surgery March 2

 

From the learning rooms...

  

  

From the kitchen...

a menu plan this week ~ YAY!  for me!  :-)

• lotsa leftovers: burrito filling w/rice, cheddar baked chicken, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes/gravy
• spaghetti for tonight (Tim & I are going out again, this time courtesy of the ‘local’ Bible college ~ taking Miss Music Box to hear their sales pitch)
• I need to put lasagna and Italian bread in the freezer for a church fellowship coming up (makes sense to do the lasagna while I’m cooking up spaghetti sauce today)
• turkey thawing to roast … tomorrow morning?
• potato soup ~ hmm, I could save the mashed potatoes for that
• turkey taquitos (Julie Grasshopper’s!)
• leftover beef roast will become BBQ or stew?
• egg casserole for Friday’s brunch with family enroute to Wisc
• bread? cookies? to send along to Wisc
• tacos
• pizza

I am creating...

our first homegrown academic transcript ~ anything to avoid tax prep!

(including catching up on report cards)

I am going...

…to have to start tax prep soon  :-(

…to catch up on scrapbooks before graduation open houses

Which one do think I’ll spend more time on?

I am reading...

I gave in and started… and finished in less than 24 hours… Her Mother’s Hope by Francine Rivers.  Now I have to read the second book!

I am hoping...

we girls all get our work done in time to attend a Bright Lights meeting (Mother-Daughter Tea) with a new friend this week  (Don’t gag, Julie G! my daughters are more girly than their mama)

I am hearing...

espanol with Senora McLamb

the dryer rumbling, the washer sloshing, the oven clicking off/on as the leftovers reheat for lunch

Around the house...

Borax, washing soda, and a bar of castille soap waiting to be combine into cheap laundry detergent that I will love using (that’s the plan anyway)

One of my favorite things...

my silly kids having fun together ~ It was Banana Night at K4T last Wednesday.  Meet Banana Man and the Chiquita Banana Girl!

 

 

Pondering these words...

Associate yourself with men of good quality

if you esteem your own reputation.

It is better be alone than in bad company.
George Washington

…which reminds me of this from yesterday’s sermon:

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Psalm 1:1

And ~  If you’ve read “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost, you might consider the contrast with Psalm 1.  Mr. Frost’s paths were equally good.  Not so in real life.  We will be blessed if we choose the narrow path that leads to life.  Pastor said it better than I can, of course…

A few plans for the rest of the week:

chiropractor appointments, church, violin (& viola) lesson, piano lessons, packing the big girls off to Wisconsin for a couple Bible conferences with their cousins et al

Here is a picture for thought...
Can you name this movie?  The kids watched just the part where they (whatever “they” are!) chased a banana… Crazy!  :-)

 

 
 

Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord,

that thou fulfil it.

Colossians 4:17

~ Find more Daybooks at Peggy's ~

daybook 2/15/2011

 

FOR TODAY  

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Outside my window...

Sunshine amongst the clouds, puddles have ice this morning ~

Forecast is warmer and warmer…

   

I am thinking...

February is HALF gone!  So much to do…

I am thankful to God…

for good news from a far country ~ Mexico, the Czech Republic

for my sweet husband and children

for fellowship with good friends

I am praying for...

... the Rettigs and the church in Prague ~ Ivana, Eva, and follow-up meetings in Pribram!

… the sale of my mother-in-law’s home

… Amber’s dad (more chemo coming)

… Diane and family

… Grant S.

… the broken marriages of J & S and R & K

… the W family

… Cinnamon, whose sweet baby girl was born last week, but she is still missing her deployed hubby

… my mom, scheduled for surgery March 2

From the learning rooms...

   The Popper is reading a good book.

Miss Artist is practicing her declamation ~

Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

The Cowgirl is taking a math test ~

The Computer Geek is studying non-metals and their compounds.  Yee ha.

The Cattleman is sharing a homemade joke (?) ~ writing dialogue for language :-)

Miss Music Box ~ YIKES!  is a senior ~ Time to crack the whip!  Meanwhile, she’s having a conversation with herself in Spanish. ahem.

And I have yet another pile of papers to grade.  It reminds me of laundry.

From the kitchen...

Tomorrow’s breakfast just came out of the oven ~ oatmeal teacake

See, I’m ahead on something!

Especially for Felicity ~ I missed a picture of a completed ‘sandwich’ but here’s the gyro meat…

 

I think this is a combination of beef and lamb.  It cooks up like bacon ~ very greasy!  I filled that 15oz can about 3/4 full of grease after frying 3 pounds of "Greek Gyro Loaf."

The tzatziki sauce is incredibly yummy!  We use sour cream with shredded, drained cucumber and garlic salt. 

 

Fill a warmed flat pita bread with meat, sauce, lettuce, onions (and tomatoes, which I don’t think to buy in the winter)

It was a very well-received treat for our Valentine’s Day dinner  :-)

And then we had chocolate!

The rest of my menu plan doesn’t go beyond Sunday’s leftovers!   

• Italian chicken with veggies (need to write this one down before I forget what I did)
• chili

I am creating...

   

This was a fun retake on jam thumbprint cookies.  I borrowed the Valentine theme from Jane and the Cowgirl was good help!  ♥

 

Check out this fabric close up!  ~ha ha~  It was just too perfect for a former dairy farmer’s new baby!  I used the pink ‘sweet dreams’ lambs to back the burp rags.  If we could only deliver this gift in person ~ just a 3-hour drive.

No picture yet, but I also finished the plaid skirt for Miss Artist ~

Happy girl!  :-)

I am going...

to have fun sharing these seeds with my kiddos!

 

These all came in the mail Friday from Michelle’s surprise give-away  :-)  Thank you!

I am reading...

my Bible and blogs ~ See the sidebar for what else I could be reading  ;-)

I am still resisting the Francine Rivers book ~ Are you impressed?

I am hoping...

to make an appointment with the chiropractor soon… 8 weeks is a long time for me!  I should have called last week.

I am hearing...

the natives (children) are getting restless ~ It must be time for the youngers to get some fresh air and feed Valerie a bottle

 

 

Around the house...

school papers to check, a mountain of laundry, still a pile of flannel, the vacuum is still waiting for someone else to use it next ;-)

One of my favorite things...

Baby calves  ♥

 

Pondering these words...

Who is this Jesus?

So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Mark 16:19-20

Pastor preached the final sermon in the Mark series ~  I will need to listen to the recording since I missed it on Sunday night.
 

A few plans for the rest of the week:

• Wednesday eve ~ church
• Thursday ~ violin lesson, Azure Standard delivery
• Friday ~ piano lessons, groceries

Here is a picture for thought...

Miss Artist brought these twigs in some time ago…

They are finally budding!  Spring is in the air  :-)

 

Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord,

that thou fulfil it.

Colossians 4:17

~ Find more Daybooks at Peggy's ~

death by chocolate (or so it’s called)

 Laura recently posted about some favorite goodies for Valentine’s Day.   So here I am, succumbed to the temptation of Death by Chocolate…  Wanna join me?

First, a half-batch of Perfect Brownies with chopped English walnuts and mini semi-sweet chocolate chips ~ and fresh whole wheat flour!  This is going to be healthy!



I opted for homemade chocolate pudding from my Better Homes & Gardens cook book, but tweaked the method a bit after reading Laura’s recipe  :-)  You know me, I’m all about tweaking and making it easier!  I also added an extra ounce of semi-sweet baking chocolate.. just because more chocolate seemed appropriate.

  



I followed Laura’s method of 3 layers of brownies and pudding in a beautiful glass bowl…

  

I splurged on Picket Fence cream – oh la la!  Such fresh yummy goodness!  And since they bottle in a 12-ounce container, we have LOTSA creamy goodness here…

 

And a few more mini chocolate chips for decoration ~ Ta da!

Perfect Brownies
2 c. sugar
1 c. butter
4 eggs
¾ c. cocoa
2 Tbsp. veg. oil (or more butter)
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 c. flour
1 c. chopped walnuts
Cream sugar and butter; add eggs and beat well. Add remaining ingredients and blend. Pour into greased 9x13” pan. Bake 30-35 min. at 350*. Cool and frost with thin layer of Butter Cream Frosting (chocolate).
NOTE: For today’s half-batch (8x8 dish) I used about 3/4 cup whole wheat flour.
 
Chocolate Pudding (Better Homes & Gardens New Cook Book, c. 1981)
3/4 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons corn starch
2 cups milk
2 squares (2 ounces) unsweetened chocolate, chopped
2 beaten egg yolks or 1 beaten egg
Whisk dry ingredients together in a heavy saucepan, add milk, egg, and chocolate.  Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Cook another minute or two.  Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla.
2 Tablespoons butter
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
Another NOTE: The cook book directs to carefully add the raw egg to the hot thickened milk mixture and cook another two minutes, but I chose to follow Laura’s directions and add the egg while the milk is still cold… seems to have worked just fine without any potential for scrambled eggs in my pudding.  Yay!
 
Cool brownies and pudding before layering dessert.
 
 

Now it’s time I was frying the gyro meat!

~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ 

{  7 pm post script:  Tim says it's good, but "Better than Perkins" Pie is best!  } 

Valerie

 

Valerie’s mama lost her first calf a year ago or thereabouts.  And stayed with Bullwinkle a little early for our schedule.  (We prefer to have the cows calve in April).  So Tim decided she might need some intervention.

  

After warming her up in the garage…

and filling her belly with some psuedo-colostrum from the store…

Tim is reuniting Val with her mama.

  

Hopefully that will go well…

And we will have our dinner date a little late!

our Valentine: Valerie

 

 

Today’s surprise! 

We are thankful the weather is more like spring!

wordless Wednesday

 

 

        

 

  

 

Happy Birthday!

daybook 2/7/2011

FOR TODAY  

Monday, February 7, 2011

Outside my window...

Light snow shower

Birds are enjoying the refilled feeder

It doesn’t seem as cold as it is – I guess that’s good?  (We’re toasty inside!)

 

I am thinking...

about the fact that we have a high school senior!  :o  Oh my.

 

I am thankful …

… for the Packers winning last night’s Super Bowl.  Seriously.  And that no one was intentionally hurt beyond legal play.  It’s just a game.  That men get paid entirely too much to play.  But I am so happy that my “good” guys were able to pull off a win.

 

I am praying for...

... the Rettigs & the church in Prague

… the sale of my mother-in-law’s home

… Amber’s dad (more chemo)

… Diane and family

… Grant S., who is doing well on his meds ~ must have another appt coming up

… the broken marriages of J & S and R & K

… the W family

… Cinnamon and EMichelle, who are both expecting babies AND missing their deployed hubbies.  Cinnamon’s baby is DUE!

… Jason D. at boot camp  (& his sweet wife Laura)

… my mom ~ scheduled for surgery in March

From the learning rooms...

We enjoyed live entertainment Friday night in the form of dramatic monologues – hee hee – The pictures don’t do justice.

(and I am humiliating myself posting pics of the basement!)

 

          

Next up:  Declamations.

From the kitchen...

meatloaf is ready to bake for tonight’s supper

Someone needs to scrub potatoes.

 

I am creating...

a scrapbook of 2010 Christmas cards… TODAY!

 

Here are the most recent flannel productions:

(double-sided baby blankets)

 

     

 

 

 

I am going...

to take Miss Music Box to the orthodontist today – and Miss Artist and the Computer Geek to the Post Office to apply for their passports

 

I am reading...

Exodus and Matthew

Family Friendly Farming

I am resisting the new Francine Rivers book I brought home from the library.

 

 

I am hoping...  to get it *all* done someday somehow

I am hearing...  the washer spinning

Around the house...

Mt. Washmore will be conquered slowly but surely.

Some kids are studying; others are reclaiming dominion over their stuff and space.

One of my favorite things...   hearing a cardinal sing

 

Pondering these words...

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Matthew 23:23

 

 

A few plans for the rest of the week:

the usual…

and a birthday!

 

 

Here is a picture for thought...

 

The boys enjoyed some football on a recent pleasant day

 

 

Miss Artist loves grapefruit… and taking pictures.

 

 

Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord,

that thou fulfil it.

Colossians 4:17

 

~ Find more Daybooks at Peggy's ~