Month: November 2004

  • The weekend is here!!  I am happy for that!

     

    I am heading to church at 9:30 to bake Christmas cookies in their kitchen.  We all made our dough and will bake at the church.  They huge pans and ovens there make it easy to get alot of cookies done in a short period of time.   I think there will be 5 or 6  of us making cookies!  I actually got groceries last night and went to three stores to get sales items.  I stayed under my budget and did very good.  DIdn't have hubby or kids with me, only thing bought that wasn't on the list was a box of cookies.  That was pretty good!

     

    Hubby and Tommy will be going to the library and in the afternoon we are going to my SIL's for the girls' birthday party.    Josh has to work today so he will be gone. 

     

    Tomororw I will be doing some cooking and cleaning.   Tommy and I will probably make some muffins for breakfasts as well on Sunday.   Hope everyone has a great weekend!

  • Morning everyone!   YEAH it's Friday I am so happy!  Able to have a more relaxed start this morning.  Tommy has preschool so I don't go into to work until after that.   After I drop him off I have to high tail it to work to pick some stuff up for a meeting.   today is Grandparents day at school.  I hope Tommy isn't the one little one without a grandparent there.  My parents live out of state and my in-laws are not in the best of health and early mornings don't happen for them. 


    I plan on cleaning up a bit and paying bills while Tommy is at preschool.  Tonight I can't work late since I have to get cookie dough made for our Christmas Cookie baking session at the church on Saturday!  Saturday will be busy with making cookies in the morning and my neices' birthday party in the afternoon.  Hoepfully we can make it to the library in between the two. 


    We are still planning on heading to SD for Thanksgiving, but Josh has to work the day after Thanksgiving.  What a bummer.  We might head home on Saturday, I am not sure yet.   Depends on if my brother is coming from Colorado or not. 


    Laundry is going so now it is time to head off to shower and get my day moving.  Have a great day!  I am still caught up with my laundry!!  I am right on schedule and only have one load to wash over the weekend!

  • Just got home from book group....glad I went I had a great time.  I am off to bed now.  Night!

  • This week is turning into another whirlwind.  I was off a few hours on Monday and ill on Tuesday, but I will still have over 40 hours in at the end of the week.  I am banking my extra hours and taking time off after the "end of year madness" here at work.  This is the worst year ever with legistlative changes and stuff. 


    Poor Tommy was begging me not to go to work this morning and I wont get home until after 10:00 tonight.  So I won't see him again today.  I know this is temporary and the rest of the year my job is flexible and they pay me very well.  But it isn't fun right now.


    I just got back from Erik's Dr appointment which was a follow up with the neurologist for his abnormal EEG.  He now needs to be admitted to the hospital for a 24-48 hour EEG.  A parent will need to be with him during that.  So I might have to schedule that in, but hopefully the end of year stuff will be close to done by then.  We will see. 


    I am looking forward to going home to SD for Thanksgiving.  But I will have to work some of the time.  Sad but true......Ok..this is sounding like a whining post right now...I am just a bit stressed...


    I have 20 more budgets to write before December 1st so I am off to get busy!!   I am going to my book group tonight, just to relax a bit.  I love my book group, I have some of the best friends.   The odd part is I have more friends now then I have ever had in my life, I am truly blessed. 


    Off to work again....Later!


     

  • Crockpot Lasagna was not sucha big hit.   I cooked it for 6 hours and the cheese on top was over done.   I think I will stick with my regular Lasagna.   Well  I am off to bed!  Have a great night!

  • Just got this in my email...I will have to give this a try!!!   It would be nice to have on hand for the holidays.







    Top Secret Recipes
    version of
    Kraft    ® Stove Top®
    Stuffing Mix
    by Todd Wilbur


           This recipe clones the common 6-ounce box of Stove Top stuffing mix you find in any supermarket. This secret formula duplicates the chicken variety, the brand's most popular version. You know, it's nice to be able to make as much of this as you want prior to the holiday crunch and just keep it sealed up in the pantry until you're ready to use it. Besides, you have enough to worry about deciding which fruits to use in the Jell-O mold. When it's time to cook, it's just a matter of adding some water and margarine, and in 10 easy minutes the stuff is all ready to go up a turkey's backside.


    1/3 cup minced fresh celery
    4 to5 slices white bread
    3 to 4 slices wheat bread
    3 chicken bouillon cubes, crushed
    2 teaspoons dried chopped onions
    1 1/2 teaspoons dried parsley
    1/8 teaspoon sugar
    1/8 teaspoon onion powder


    To Make Stuffing
    1 2/3 cups water
    1/4 cup margarine



    1. Arrange the celery pieces on a plate and set the plate in a warm place - a sunny window is best - for 24 hours or until the celery is thoroughly dry. This is the best way to dry the tiny pieces of celery for the instant stuffing mix. You must be sure to remove all moisture from the celery. You should end up with 2 teaspoons of dried celery for every 1/3 cup of freshly minced. 
    2. Prepare bread crumbs by stacking the bread slices on top of each other and squishing them down flat with the palms of your hands. This will create denser bread crumbs that will not become soggy and pasty when cooking.  Use a sharp knife to dice the bread into little pieces. You should have about 2 1/2 cups of white bread and 1 1/2 cups of wheat for a total of around 4 cups of bread. 
    3. Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Spread the bread crumbs on a cookie sheet. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until bread is completely dry. You should now have around 2 2/3 cups of dry bread crumbs.
    4. To make the vegetable/seasoning mix, combine the dried celery with chicken bouillon powder, onions, parsley, sugar, and onion powder in a small bowl. You now have a stuffing kit that can be sealed up and stored in a dry place until you are ready to use it.
    5. To make the stuffing: Mix the vegetable/seasoning mix with 1 2/3 cups water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the bread crumbs, cover, and remove from heat. Let stuffing stand 5 to 7 minutes. Fluff it with a fork before serving. 



    From: http://www.topsecretrecipes.com


    Makes 6 servings

  • One of my new subscribers, Quiltermom2six posted this on her site.  I really liked it and wanted to share it with you.  I hope she doesn't mind!1


    A Child's Ten Commandments to Parents


    By Dr. Kevin Leman, from his book First-Time Mom, published by Tyndale.



    • 1. My hands are small; please don't expect perfection whenever I make a bed, draw a picture or throw a ball. My legs are short; please slow down so that I can keep up with you.
    • 2. My eyes have not seen the world as yours have; please let me explore safely: don't restrict me unnecessarily.
    • 3. Housework will always be there. I'm only little for such a short time - please take time to explain things to me about this wonderful world, and do so willingly.
    • 4. My feelings are tender; please be sensitive to my needs; don't nag me all day long. (You wouldn't want to be nagged for your inquisitiveness.) Treat me as you would like to be treated.
    • 5. I am a special gift from God; please treasure me, holding me accountable for my actions, giving me guidelines to live by and disciplining me in a loving manner.
    • 6. I need your encouragement, but not your praise, to grow. Please go easy on the criticism; remember, you can criticize the things I do without criticizing me.
    • 7. Please give me the freedom to make decisions concerning myself. Permit me to fail, so that I can learn from my mistakes. Then someday I'll be prepared to make the kind of decisions life requires of me.
    • 8. Please don't do things over for me. Somehow that makes me feel that my efforts didn't quite measure up to your expectations. I know it's hard, but please don't try to compare me with my brother or my sister.
    • 9. Please don't be afraid to leave for a weekend together. Kids need vacations from parents, just as parents need vacations from kids. Besides, it's a great way to show us kids that your marriage is very special.
    • 10. Please take me to Sunday school and church regularly, setting a good example for me to follow. I enjoy learning more about God.

     

  • Supper Tonight......................


    Lasagna
    1 lb. ground beef
    1 onion, chopped
    1/8 tsp. garlic powder
    2-15 oz. cans tomato sauce
    1-6 oz. can tomato paste
    1-1/2 tsp. salt
    1 tsp. dried oregano
    1-12 oz. carton cottage cheese
    1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
    12 oz. lasagna noodles, uncooked
    12 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese


    Brown ground beef and onion in skillet. Add garlic powder, tomato sauce, tomato paste, salt and oregano. Cook long enough to get it warm. Spoon a layer of meat sauce onto the bottom of the crockpot. Add a double layer of uncooked lasagna noodles (break to fit) and top with cheeses. Repeat with sauce, noodles and cheeses until all are used up.

    Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours. 10 Servings

  • I am ended up coming home from work yesterday early as I got the chills, was naseaus and had a headache.   I slept for a while and just felt terrible all night.   I feel a little better this morning, but am working from home today.  Erik has a Dr appointment this afternoon that I hope to be able to go to.    


    The next couple of months should prove be very interesting budgeting exercises.   We thought my hubby has one more paycheck coming from his old employer for about $800, but it doens't look like he does.  YIKES!   Plus child support hasn't come this month at all and it was behind last month.   So that is about another $500.00 we will be short.    I am glad I got most of the kids xmas presents already.    Once we receive our taxes we will be fine again.....just a few unforseen items to make life interesting.    As always I say a prayer and things seem to work out ok.     I love a challenge!

  • This is one of those post that I do to really thank all my readers.  I get up in the morning and it is so good to hear from you all.  But I feel like I neglect you all too.....so from time to time I try to respond to some comments, etc.  I really do appreciate all of you that subscribe to my site and regularly comment. 


    TerriBowden - Terri sorry to ruin your imagine of me, I am not that naturally organized. I have to make lists and things or I simply forgot so much.   I also will makea to do list each day.  But learning to make lists and things has really helped me alot.  It took a while to get from making lists to acutally doing the things on the list.   Now if I could only get my hubby to write anything down!!  He expects me to be his memory too and he is Very Forgetful.  (adult add I would guess!)


    WisconsinMomof2 - Sandy it sure does feel great to have some food inthe freezer and I msut admit my own motivator or inspiration in that is you!   I read your site and I think...what a great idea...I can do that too!


    Mistey - Freezer cookig is a huge money and time saver for us.   We really need that right now with my hubby changing jobs and things. 


    Barkstone -  Books for grown-ups???   Well yes I do read books for grown-ups, but I only read about 2 pages a night before I fall in the coma we call sleep (exhaustion??).   But the one thing I love is books on tape!   I hit the library and get a book on tape and listen to ooks while I drive to and from work and appointments throughout the day.  You don't get as upset about being stuck in traffic if you have a nice story keeping you company.   I do belong to a adult book group and try very hard to read the book for group each month.  I don't always succeed.   This month we are meeting this Thursday due to Thanksgiving and Iam done with the book already!


    DawnsEarlyLight -  I LOVE the library.   We go to the library every Saturday.  It is one of Tommy's favorite places besides "his church".  I have always encouraged my children to read and it has paid off with Tommy and Josh.  My stepson isn't with us enough for anything we do to really make much of a difference.   Josh has read at college level since he was in 5th grade I think?   Tommy has a very good vocabulary too.  He frequently surprises me with it.  Tommy also understands so mich.  For me reading is escapsism....reading can transport you to other places and times and I enjoy that.   I am not much of a TV watcher so reading is my relaxation.  I grew up in SD and didn't have much of a Library...I am totally spoiled living in the Metro area since I have access to more than one library system!  *But that does leave me at risk of more over due fines!!


    WELCOME TO EVERYONE WHO SUBSCRIBED IN NOVEMBER


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