I liked this...

"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently and die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."-- Robert A. Heinlein

I know, sounds like it belongs on a Man's Blog :-)

But it gives me ideas for homeschooling, if not for my own furthering education!

Menu Plan Monday

So I did actually do last week, but it went out of control. I ended up not making one of the meals, but it was the right one, as it is still waiting in the freezer for next week!

Here's this week!

Monday: Work
Tuesday: Marlboro Man's Favorite Sandwich
Wednesday: Date Night
Thursday: Asian Chicken Salad
Friday: Corn Chowder
Saturday: Family Birthday Dinner
Sunday: Work

I am so excited that it is warming up outside! I love this Asian Chicken Salad, but salad just doesn't seem right in the winter, especially when it is the main meal. And hopefully we can coerce some company to join us for our Tuesday meal... I haven't asked yet, but my sister and her hubby are home for a few days this week, and I'm hoping they will want some personal time with their nieces!

Our Saturday Project

Our project yesterday had to do with our stockpiling mess. With all the great deals God has blessed us with the past few months, our stockpile has grown bigger than what we can handle. So yesterday, we moved a giant shelf into a closet, bought two pantries from Shopko ($60 off!), and cleared out a space to bring a freezer down from the garage. I am hoping to use it more to store flours and such in for a day to kill any weevil eggs (or whatever they are) to help prolong the shelf life of our long term storage.

After finishing with one of the pantries, the girls woke up from their nap, and they definitely saw something I didn't. A slide; only inches high, but a slide nonetheless!

And you know what I am really excited about? Other than, you know, a little organization? I get to claim the top shelves of the pantries for our Homeschool tools! Now they have somewhere to live other than our countertop! I know, isn't that just thrilling!!! My heart went a pitter-pat as I lifted the first item from it's home of a year, and placed inside, and SHUT THE DOOR! AACCKKK! Out of sight!

Annie! Aren't you proud of us! :-)

Heads Up.

I want to call your attention to this article, because if you're like me, you don't watch the news or listen to talk radio, and this is something that you need to be aware of.

Independent Trucker Strike

I know some of us are still in denial about what is happening in our country, and we can pray that these truckers make a difference with this strike, but I believe this is a good indicator of the rising inflation that we will continue to be seeing in the near future.

Please, for those of you with your heads in the sand, please, please for your family's sake, prepare for what is to come as much as God leads you to.

Good Morning!

It's snowing this morning.

Melia had the great idea to go outside and catch snowflakes.

It was also her great idea to go out in her pajamas and flip-flops.

She loved it-- Now she is just waiting for enough snow to fall so we can make Frosty again :-)

It's a Woot Off!

Hey all! If you haven't heard about Woot.com, you should check it out. We have bought several different items from there, all for pretty good deals. It's a one-day, one-deal place.

But today is a woot off! Every time something sells out, they start another one. It's kinda like clearance ;-)

And it is a lot of fun :-)

So head on over to Woot and join in!

Saturday: Spend some time cuddling him. :-) Done!

Sunday: Give him a foot massage. Well, how about a back massage?

Monday: Look up the word RESPECT. Now show it to him today! Oops, I didn't look it up, nor did I really get to spend any time with him today...but we ate chips and salsa when I got home from work and watched AFV!

Tuesday: Give him a surprise visit at work. I really can't... plus he wasn't working today. So how about the fact that today I made a dinner he really really liked...

Wednesday: Let go of something that bothers you. Pray about it and give it to God. This is today. I am not sure what I am going to give up. I will pray about it and get back to you on this.

Sorry I haven't been more up-to-date with this, but after all, it was Easter Weekend! You can remind me too, I don't mind!

Interesting activity at Our House

I have a confession to make. I didn't tell you something. I didn't have the heart, because my heart was broken.

I think Marsha abandoned her kittens. The next day after we discovered their birth, I found them all dead. I ached for them.

But now a new development has arisen that I far from expected.

Yesterday, Ezri had her litter; four little snows, plus one stillborn. (This happened last time, so I was a little prepared.) But every time Gabe and I have gone in to check on her and the babies, Marsha has been in the little house nursing the kittens!

I don't know what to think now, other than maybe she didn't know exactly what to do with hers, and now she does? Maybe because these four look exactly like hers? And since it has been two weeks, where did the milk come from?

Amazing, in any case. I am thankful though, because Ezri really got skinny the last week of her pregnancy, so this will help not put such a strain on her body.

Easy Corn Chowder

This is a Pampered Chef recipe that I have adapted for our family-- My hubby loves it! He says to put a double batch on the menu every week!

Easy Corn Chowder

2 med unpeeled red potatos
1 cup cubed cooked ham
1/2 cup diced red pepper
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 t butter/marg
2 T all purpose flour
1 can chicken broth
1 can fat free evaporated milk
1 can creamed corn
2 T sliced chives
salt and pepper to taste
crumbled bacon topping

Cut Potatos into 1/2 inch cubes, set aside with ham, celery and peppers.

Heat butter in medium saucepan over med heat. Add peppers and celery; cook 3-4 minutes while stirring, until crisp tender. Stir in flour, heat until bubbly. Gradually add broth, evaporated milk and corn, whisking until blended.

Add potatos; bring to boil. Reduce heat, cook uncovered 10 min or until potatos are tender. Stir in ham, heat through. Remove from heat, add chives, season w/ salt & pepper. Ladle into bowls and top with bacon.

My adaptations: I don't use the chives. I did the first time, but buying them from the store is too expensive. I may pick up some dried also... I am trying to adapt it for the crockpot- but the first time it burned it, although it tasted fine, and the second time it was too runny. So, a work in progress :-) I also just cooked it with the bacon because we didn't have any ham, and that was pretty good, but we definitely like the ham flavor better.

If anyone has any suggestions for adapting to crockpot cooking, I would love to hear them!

WOW! Two hours later....

Thanks to my one good helper, we had a super two hours! Notice the bubbles in her hand-- Yes, I bribed her. But it worked!

I know, shut that pantry door.... And it does look still cluttered, but such is our life. We are cluttery people. Speaking of which...
And not as clean as most people, but hey- that pile can wait until another day. This is our "clutter" counter. We work on it constantly, but it constantly finds things that "live" on it's smooth surface, right within reach at all times...