Happy Halloween….

Well we had our party yesterday and it was a huge success. The kids had a blast. We didn’t get to do the wiener roast outside like I wanted too but Mike started up the little grill and grilled the hot dogs for us and then for the marshmallow roast, well you’ll have to see the pictures because they speak louder then me explaining them.

When the kids were done they helped Mike out with his Civic Service project. It’s roadside pick up on our 4 miles of road. Mike has a few more surprises with his project but can’t share them yet with you but I will.

Enjoy the pictures of my kiddo’s and some of the roadside pick up (in the rain/snow but the kids would do anything for Mike, just like he for them).

Take care and of course God Bless you all!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Something else to check out….

http://www.middayescapades.com/2009/08/giveaways-galore.html  Go here, there are giveaways to register for, some ending today. Give it a try, I’m going too. We all like to win something once in awhile and what better way to get to know someone by checking out their blog and signing up for something.

Thank you Lynn for all your hard work putting this together.

Time to get outside and do the chores. I’m sure the chickens are not going to be thrilled with the cold and snow but hopefully it’s short lived and we can see sunshine and dry weather for a little bit, at least that’s what they say for next week.

Take care and God Bless!

Something new for me to try….

While checking this blog out and that blog out I came along to a really neat one and wanted to share it with you today. http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/2009/10/beautiful-red-or-white-berry-wreath.html  She has the coolest looking napkin rings she’s giving away and I wanted to share them with you. I was thinking these would make the perfect housewarming gift for Brenda when we join them for Thanksgiving in her new home. Of course I’ll try for the giveaway but if that doesn’t happen then I think I’ll purchase a couple of sets for her. Check them out when you have a chance and also everything else she has on her blog.

Here’s what her table setting looks like for Thanksgiving….I love it!!!

Well it’s time for me to fix my boys some breakfast. I have daycare today but it’s an easy day and Jon has been looking forward to it for weeks. Since he’s in kindergarten every day all day he doesn’t have to much Julie time anymore and he was so excited to come today and know that he gets to pick the meals, pick what we do and just play. I love my little ones and thank God daily for the chance to have them here with me.

Now, Happy Halloween everyone. A day for the little ones to get out and get some goodies and a chance for the parents to visit with other too. Take care my dear friends. God Bless you all!!!

P.S. If you do go and check out the Style Sisters website, please mention my name and blog because it gets me an additional chance in the drawing for these napkin rings. Thank you!!

Just so you know…..

That it wasn’t me that changed my blog, it was Mike. He spent the last hour doing what I asked even though he thought I didn’t have a thought to work with. He’d just look at me and smile and do it. There are tons of free backgrounds out there but the website we used was www.moobackgrounds.com  It took some doing to get it right but he has the patience of a saint with mama sitting here gasping if it didn’t turn out right or took a few seconds longer then expected. Anyways, thank you Mike for all your help. I love you kiddo.

Pumpkins

Well the kids did their pumpkins. They had a blast as did I. We had a visitor today too and she got right into it too. It was so much fun having my big girls here this afternoon and I get them again on Friday for our Halloween party. Tonight I think Mike and I will do our two and that will leave two for I’m not sure what. I think I’d like to clean it out and drill it full of holes but if I say that to Jim or Mike I’m sure they won’t think of drill it full of holes like with a drill bit, they’d think more of the terms of blowing it apart with a gun. We’ll see what I come up with, maybe they can just look good the way God made them. Anyways, here’s the pumpkins the kids did.

I had forgotten that Bobby liked pumpkin innards so he had to be on the table checking things out and having a snack. 

That’s it for today folks. I hope that you all had an excellent day, I know I did. Take care and God Bless!!

Isn’t love grand….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wilbur loves his kids but he has a special love for Hannah. She loves him just as much. He’s so good with all the kids but if he can’t see or hear Hannah he’s looking to see where she is. He will play with her, rest with her, baby-sit her. I just had to share these pictures with you.

Tomorrow all my kids get to come home early, no bus riding, and they get to carve pumpkins. It is always so much fun watching their faces when we do that. I’ll share some pictures with you tomorrow. This year for Halloween Mike and I are going to host a small daycare get together with mamas, dads and grandparents and of course the kids. We’re going to have a wiener roast, roast marshmallows and I found the cutest cake idea so will make them a cake. I won’t be here on Halloween so wanted to do something fun with the kids and something different with families.

I hope you got to get out and enjoy the sunshine today. Take care my friends, sleep well and God Bless.

Good evening…

Weekends go by way to fast but this weekend was wonderful. Last night was my daddy’s performance. He looked so handsome up on stage and the group sang their heart outs and were so very good. I got a picture of daddy and Mike also mama and daddy.

    

Then today was Abby’s Confirmation open house and Kim had done such a great job and I just did some setting up and serving but it was such a wonderful turn out. I bet it you go to Kim’s blog, www.ubercrafter.com you can read about the day.

Got home and finished covering the septic and a few odds and ends and got to relax for the rest of the day.

Tomorrow is a mama and my morning. Some shopping, lunch and then I’ll come home and think I’ll have to start beading for the next show the first Saturday in November. It’ll be at Westside Church in Aitkin, if you’re in the area. I’m hoping Brenda will be up and about and able to be part of this show but I’m thinking she’s still non-weight bearing for a few more weeks so not sure.

Well it’s time to get some dishes done, the laundry out of the dryer and get ready for a new week. I hope all is well with everyone. Take care, have a great week and God Bless you all!

just because….

 

One of my parents brought me flowers last night. Really she gave them to Anton and he gave them to me with a huge hug. Aren’t they beautiful? While taking pictures to share with you I noticed that one of the roses has a double center….see….

I love flowers and to have them a surprise was wonderful.

Justin, Hannah and I worked in the garden this morning. Hannah and Justin threw the last of the dead tomatoes to the chickens and I pulled up the tomato cages and some of the sunflowers. I cut off a few more heads to feed the birds up at the house and left the rest for the blue jays. We went for a short walk but Hannah was getting pretty tired so came home for lunch. Now they are in bed and it’s time to disinfect the kitchen. So far other then a sniffle here or there that’s lasted maybe a day if not less we’ve been healthy and I plan on doing my best to keep it that way. It’s just to hard for parents to take time off from work and though it’s okay to bring them here ill there’s still no place like mama’s arms when you’re sick.

I hope that all is well with everyone. Take care and have a blessed weekend. I’m going to go and watch my daddy perform for the Geritol Frolics. If you are in the Brainerd Lakes area you need to take the time to see them. It is amazing just how much work, energy and life goes into these shows. I am so very proud of my daddy for doing them. He’s a great singer and you can tell he loves it all.

God Bless my friends.

Do skunks have a purpose?

I know at my house the only purpose one had last night was to be dead. It crawled under the chicken coop and died there, not on it’s own free will but with some help. But first it had to spray Wilbur and the chicken coop and the world around it. My goodness does my yard, house and chickens smell bad. Wilbur got 4 bathes last night, the tomatoes juice one, the anti stink shampoo, Mike’s body wash and then my hair soap and cream rinse. Other then the top of his nose he’s back to smelling like he should, that is until he gets wet and no matter what you do that stink sticks around for a long time. You know something else too, why is it that when your dog gets sprayed it’s just about bed time? It happened about 10:00 and by 11:30 I was ready to crawl into bed and I have to be up at 4:30 in the morning. YUCK!! Oh well, life in the country…..not the best part!

Now Jim brought me home another 4 lbs of cranberries so we made a cranberry, apple, blueberry sauce. Yum….it is wonderful. We also made 4 more pints of cranberry jelly. I froze enough to make up a small batch of cranberry sauce and left a bowl full to make a apple/cranberry tart or crisp. I did ask that he get me as many pounds of cranberries as he can and he did, 12 lbs worth but now we have plenty to last until next season. Kim’s daughter has an open house this Sunday and they are serving pork so I’m going to share some of what we made for some extra goodness.

I never did make those plastic bag holders yet, the idea, fabric and machine is waiting…I’m just short on energy and time but maybe in the next day or two. I think I’m stuck today cleaning out the chicken coop….dampness and skunk smell are not friendly in the coop so better just do it and get it over with. I think the kids and I will stay in for the morning and then at nap time I’ll go out and get that done. Our coop is only 100’ behind the house so they can see me or I can hear them if someone wakes up before I’m done.

Well I hope that you all have a super day today. The sun is suppose to shine here and get into the 40’s so I can handle that. My batteries can recharge for the next bout of showers/snow and no sunshine. Take care my friends. God Bless!!!!

Good morning…

If it doesn’t stop raining soon we’re going to have to get some plans for building an ark. I have so much outside stuff I still need to get done. I’ve been doing lots of it between rainy days but still have to cut down the roses, peonies and raspberries. Get the last of the tomato cages out of the garden and clean the chicken coop and get all that goodness in the garden. I don’t think we’ll be getting it tilled this fall but it can just rest.

I looked at my summer kitchen drapes and figured I’d put up my winter ones but didn’t remember that the winter ones I had were from before we remolded in here so I got them up and they didn’t fit no matter what I did. I then remembered why so at 9:00 at night I made some new ones. My daddy came over yesterday and checked them out and we got to talking about the fabric and it’s the material he bought me at least 10 years ago. I remember the trip we made to St. Cloud for my birthday and we went to Northwestern Fabs and I picked it out and he got it for me. I never knew exactly what I was going to do with it but am so glad I used it the these. Every time I look at them now I remember our trip and daddy helping me pick it out. Anyways, here’s what they look like. The pictures aren’t the best because of the flash but you’ll get the idea.

                         

Now last night Jim brought home over 8 lbs of fresh cranberries so Mike and I spent 4 hours making them into 3 different things. We made 8 cups of cranberry sauce, 6 pints cranberry jelly, 8 pints and a bit extra winter jam ( it’s made with cranberries, apples and pineapple). Here’s the recipe for the winter jam, it is so excellent and easy.

WINTER JAM

3 c. cranberries
1 1/2 c. diced and peeled apples
3 1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. water
1 1/2 c. crushed pineapple
2 tbsp. pineapple juice

Cook cranberries and apples in water until tender (I did not peel the apples, I just cut them off the core). Press through sieve (I used a food mill, it was fast and easy). Measure 3 cups pulp. Add pineapple, pineapple juice, and sugar. Mix and boil until thick and semi clear. Can anyway you want, I just put them in old jars and plastic containers for freezer jam. They are for Christmas gifts so won’t be in there too long.

It was so nice working with Mike and letting him be the boss and all. I took a few pictures to share with you.

So now it’s onward and upwards to the next thing. I think it’ll be sewing mama a plastic bag tube. She wants one for Christmas so think I’ll make a couple for gifts too. Something easy, not time consuming but needed.

I hope all is well with you all. Now take care and have a great day. God Bless!!

Cute Christmas idea….

I found this tonight while looking through my blog list and think this would be a really cool Christmas gift idea. I have a friend that has made something like this but more for backs and shoulders and stuff (it’s Kim at www.ubercrafter.blogspot.com). Anyways, check this out…it’s feet warmers at http://www.vanessachristenson.com/2009/02/tutorialrice-bag-feet-warmer.html 

There’s a tutorial and everything. It’s so cute and really useful with winter on it’s way.

Have a good night. God Bless!!

Terrific, wonderful, fulfilling, perfect……

I wouldn’t in no way no how trade this weekend for anything. It was perfect. Oh I know it was cold, 15* one morning, rain and snow another day but the fun with the kids, the time with Mike, adults who care for kids as much as I do….it was just plain great. This weekends theme at Venture Camp was Harry Potter and the half witted loons. The kids were sorted into 4 groups…snakes, fox, heron, bear. The adults were all loons, ha..ha.. There was potions where the kids collected many things from the woods and then made a concoction. There was a Wizard dual where the kids got to try and push each other off a log with swimming noodles, Mike loved this one the best cuz I played and he got to beat me up and push me off the log. Then there was “the Hunt” where they set up clues and the kids had to find these clues and figure out the answer to the question. Mike’s group won this one and Mike placed 3rd in the wizard dueling. There was also climbing that Mike just loves. Mike, Winchester and I also volunteered in the kitchen for lunch one day, set up, cooking and cleaning.

When we got home we then went to Taylor’s Eagle Court of Honor. Such a great achievement for any scout.

Okay some pictures to share with you from our weekend. I hope you all had as great a weekend as I did. Take care and God Bless.

   

   

 

 

                   

 

          

Award…..YEAH!!

I got an award today from Anitra from http://ifmamaaint.blogspot.com/. If you haven’t gone there yet you gotta check her out.

The award I got this morning was a friendship award. It goes like this…..

This award is bestowed on to blogs that are exceedingly charming.
These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends.
They are not interested in self-aggrandizement.
Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers.

It was so sweet and I will be passing this award along next week when I get back from High Adventure camp with Mike and the scouts of Venture Crew 52.

So that also means this will be my last post for a few days. Please be patient and I’ll have lots to tell you about our weekend, pictures to share and some new ideas.

Take care you all, God Bless!!!

Should I blog the opps?….

Well I’m going to and it’s all because I’m trying to do it with two little ones watching me and because I want to hurry and see if it turns out, because ……well I don’t know, maybe because I’m not thinking and I know better. Heck, how can you screw up just three pattern pieces…well I can… see, it’s inside out and the neck it way to narrow (that means I didn’t cut on the lines to well either, hummm….better check that out on the other slipper before I do it). Well check out the pictures for the screw up and before I post this blog I’m going to make one right so I can at least show you I can sew something right. You know something else, with a man’s size 13 they look like flippers. Wonder if Mike will even wear them?

Here’s the material and pattern to start out with:

  Sure looks simple enough…….:o)

 

Now the two opps. Can you believe I did it twice. Sew the heal wrong side out Twice, yep TWO times………Well I did check out the neck and it’s not me, the pattern makes a very narrow opening, I’m going to fix that so they will be easier to get on.

Now the final pair. If you ask me they still look like flippers socks instead of slippers but hey, if they keep his feet warm then that’s what will count.

Now it’s my turn, I’ll see what I have for fabric and make me a pair.

Just had to share this today. I hope all is well with you and that you are enjoying the sunshine. We have some today, at least so far this afternoon, but it’s still only 32* out there. I gotta go put wood in the stove and collect some eggs. Take care and God Bless!!

Songs of Praise…

For many years I have listen to and really enjoyed the music that I can download and listen to from this site…http://songsofpraise.org/

They have some amazing songs that are just perfect for any time of day. Their Christmas music is terrific too. When you have a moment you have got to check this out.

Other things…..

Today I got my patterns I ordered from Butterick. They were running a great sale on discontinued patterns and I found three of them I just couldn’t resist getting. One was for a uniform top that I’m just going to make into a work blouse. One was for a fleece jacket and the last one is for slippers, really cool simple slippers. I am going to make a pair tomorrow for Mike out of some left over gray heavy weight fleece. The first pair I’m going to make is just the simple pattern ones but after that I want to make some with leather bottoms or something with grip. Mainly I want to make Mike and I a pair for camping this weekend, something extra soft and warm to sleep in.

I’ll take some pictures tomorrow to show you. I’m excited to do some sewing, it’s been awhile.

So good night, sleep tight and God Bless!!

Results….

Remember I told you I had clipped coupons for Naomi’s birthday? Well the update is….she spent $96.00 and saved $48.00. She said it was one of the best birthday gifts ever. I just wanted you to know that you too can save with some clipping time and thought.

It’s snowing here, suppose to get an inch or so of that white stuff. At least it’s not too cold, about 28*. Now next week it’s gonna warm up, believe it or not.

Time to decorate with the kids. Take care.

Good Monday morning…..

Well it’s snowing again but only today and then it’s suppose to warm up, you like that warm up…to 40* and sunny. I sorta was hoping for 50-60’s for this weekend but if the sun can come out I’ll settle for the 40’s. Mike and I were talking about camping this weekend and decided on snow boats and hand/feet warmers just in case the weatherman isn’t right. I’m going to be bringing my smaller tent so the heat will stay in there a bit better and my air mattress along with a sleeping mat because even though air mattress are nice in the summer they are a conductor for cold and are not the warmest to lay on but with a foil blanket and then my sleeping pad I’ll be sleeping like a baby, hopefully anyways.

Well we got a good chunk of our winterizing done this weekend. All that’s really left is the garden, chicken coop, covering the septic and moving the canopy. Not bad. We worked 8 hours on Saturday and 5 yesterday. I now need the chiropractor though, I did a dumb thing, I moved the outdoor grill by myself and pulled some muscles and twisted this and that and am paying for it this morning.

I’m not sure if I’ll make it back this week or not. With finishing stuff up, packing for camp and then camp it could be a busy week. We do have scouts tonight, a business meeting tomorrow night, Wednesday I have to go to Grand Rapids to file in small claims court and then the chiropractor and Thursday we’re gone.

So take care, have a great week and God Bless.

Okay, who ordered this?

  I know it wasn’t me that ordered it. It’s only 12* out there too. Ugh!!!!

Okay you have to admit it’s pretty too but still, it’s only October 10th, it’s to early for this plus they are now talking shovelable amounts on Monday.

Still got do all the winterizing this weekend so no matter what’s what we’ll be doing it. I just wanted to share what’s here.

I hope all is well and that you have a great weekend. Take care and God Bless!!

Oh, oh…forgot….

I made homemade laundry soap again this week. This time I’m trying the powdered version. Instead of grating the bar of soap I powdered it and I think I really like it. It works just fine in cold water and haven’t had any problems with it rinsing out or leaving any film on anything. I do miss the scent like I use in the liquid but will try and add some to the next batch. Lemon grass is my favorite.

Have you tired the new Bounce Dryer Bar yet? I love it, it’s something that requires no thought what so ever. If you go to the P&G website you can get a coupon for the dryer bar. I got one for $4.00 off the first bar and $2.50 for the second one. I’ve been using it now for about 2 months and it looks to be about 1/2 gone. It smells so good and it’s easy. Anything that makes life just a bit easier.

Just had to share. If you want the recipe for the powdered laundry soap it’s 1 cup Fels Natha bar soap (ground to a powder), 2 cups Borax and 2 cup washing soda. Mix it up and use 1-2 Tlbs  per load.

Good night, sleep well and God Bless!

 

Coupons, again……

I don’t know if you get tired of hearing about coupons or not but I can’t help but share with you. This past week Cub Foods and Super One and my local Super Valu have had some really good deals and store coupons and with me clipping and printing out other coupons from the sites I’ve shared with you I was able to spend $30.00 and save $27.00. I got cereal, pop-tarts, toaster goodies, baking needs, female needs, milk and cat food and a few other goodies. You know what was better, Naomi did my shopping for me. I got everything organized and she left work and went shopping. She gets off work 2 hours before she needs to be here to pick up the kids (her oldest rides the bus after school here and there’s no point in picking up two, going home and coming back for the last one, so she can go home, go shopping or whatever she needs to do before coming here). It was a win/win for us both. Then for her birthday which is tomorrow, Happy Birthday Naomi, I clipped her all the coupons she needed to do the same thing plus some extra ones for special goodies. I also got her, from the kids, the cuties little pumpkin salt/pepper shakers. They are in the shape of pumpkins. She’s hosting Thanksgiving at her house and thought a neat little pretty would perk up the table and something she will always have from the kids.

Okay anyways, if you haven’t tried it yet, go to www.eversave.com and www.print.coupons.com it’s really worth all the effort and time.  Also don’t forget www.angelfoodministries for a local food pick-up for a really fair price and www.emergencyfoodshelf.org/OurFamilyOfPrograms/ffa/  both of these are not like a food shelf. You pay for the food but it’s at a very good price that they have passed down to you because they are able to buy in bulk and not have all the middle men taking their share. We are trying a new program too, Rubies Ministries but at the moment I don’t have a website to share with you but can find it if anyone is interested.

I have to tell you, I am able to feed my family of three, my daycare of 3-6 and also make some special meals for my husbands business and my parents for a total of $100.00 a month. I spend another $50.00 a month for the extras we don’t get but it’s making it so I’m able to make ends meet even though business is slow. I know we’re not the only ones struggling so if I can help anyone just a little bit all of this is worth it.

Thanks for listening/reading. I do so appreciate you all. Take care and have a wonderful weekend. They say snow tomorrow, oh well it’s Minnesota and we will get some more warmth later on before winter really sets in, maybe even for our up-coming Venture weekend over MEA.

God Bless my friends.

TGIF!!

It’s been a good but very busy week here. The first part of the week I worked in the garden and got that last of everything out of there. We still need to pull the plants, clean out the chicken coop and then get the garden tilled but we have a couple weeks left before that has to be done. That is except we are suppose to have an inch of snow tomorrow so that will make the garden mushy. We’ll just see, it can always rest and get done in the spring but looks so much nicer cleaned up.

On Wednesday we did the fire trucks. For those of your who don’t know about this. 15 years + ago we purchased a 1949 Chevy fire truck and a 1961 Chevy fire truck from two local fire departments. We have used these fire trucks for parades and kindergartener rides and also have had them available for our local fire departments during spring time droughts. Anyways, when Mike was in kindergarten 13 years ago they didn’t get to participate in Fire Prevention week because they went to school every other day and at least one class would miss out on seeing the fire trucks the fire department brought to school. Well since we had a couple we started giving rides to all kindergarten classes. Usually 50-60 kids for two days. We’ve done it now for 13 years. Each of my daycare kids get to ride the truck each year until they are two old too or in a class they can’t get out of. This year both Rachel and Abby got out of their classes to help us (Mike use to do until he got over into the high school). It is so cool doing this. Here is a couple of this years pictures.

 

Abby is by Mrs... Wenzel to her right and Rachel is the tall young lady in the Palisade truck.

Last night I cut out the invites for our Halloween Bonfire. I decided that the kids get so much candy from trick or treating that we’d have a bonfire after school and roast some wieners and marshmallows. One of my daycare daddy’s said he’d pick up the boys from school along with his girls and bring them all out here to play and enjoy. If we haven’t already, we’ll carve a pumpkin or two and then play a game. I’ll be a fun way for them to just be and the parents can visit when they come. I wanted to show you the invites. My mama found them on Martha Stewards website and printed them out for me. So cool. See…..

 

Now it’s onward and upwards to the weekend. This is the weekend to get the winterizing done. Roll up the hoses, drain the pumps and get them put away, tarp the wood piles, the drain field, move the canopy, picnic table, insulate the chicken coop…..you know all those kinds of things. Mike and I go to camp the following weekend so I’m sorta hoping we could have our indian summer then or at least a bit warmer temps then 14* when I got up this morning.

I hope you all are doing fantastic and enjoy our beautiful fall colors. I have a few more pictures to take of Mike and then it’s time to get them printed and choose which one he likes best. If I remember right Walgreens has a graduation pack for printing so will have to look into that and see.

Take care my friends. God Bless each and every one of you!!

This weekend…

Finally Mike and I got to go geo-caching. We took lots of pictures and of course some grad pictures. This week is our last week to be doing that since he has to have his grad picture in on the 1st of November and I have to have help picking the one I really want. Just a few more and then we’ll see what there is. When I get down to the last few I will post them and see if you can help me pick also. Here’s are two of my favorites for our walk on Larson Trails looking for the prize, which by the way we didn’t find. We’ll try again another day.

Hey, you gotta see this, while walking on Larson Trails we came to the shelter and I just loved it. We’ve walked Larson Trails before but never this loop before.

Our success rate for finding the geo-caches wasn’t great, we went for 4 and only found 1 but you know what, it didn’t matter at all. We had a blast together and that was really the only reason for going. Here’s a couple other good pictures we took.

 We also went to Wisc. this weekend to pick up a 4’ 3 point mount sickle mower that Jim won on e-bay. He’s been looking for a long time and has never seen them for less the $400.00 but this time he won at just $100.00 plus the trip so sure couldn’t beat that. It was a 380 mile round trip but the scenery was beautiful. Mike took a few pictures so here’s a couple. He hasn’t learn yet about taking pictures from moving vehicles but he did do great on some.

Well that’s that for now. I hope that all is well with everyone. So take care, have a wonderful day and God Bless!!!