How Does an Only Child Play Bluegrass?

Chad just recorded himself playing the bass part with the digital camera. Then, he played it on his computer and recorded himself playing the mandolin with it. Now, he's added in the guitar part (with then bass and mandolin parts playing on the computer). He even sang in harmony with himself. :) This gives new meaning to one-man band! LOL I really think I should have had more than one child....

Seen on a Bumper Sticker This Evening

DON'T BLAME ME

I VOTED FOR THE AMERICAN

LOL

And why would he not just show the birth certificate and put an end to the questions?

I'm a Goodwill-aholic....

For the past several years, I've not done much shopping, other than what is necessary, and I loathe malls. But lately, I've been on a few shopping sprees. I've been wanting to get a few more things to decorate with. Thankfully, my shopping sprees take place at Goodwills, flea markets, and rummage sales. Reuse and recycle, right? Chad now calls me a Goodwill-aholic. Here are a few of my "treasures":

In the picture below, you can see three little glass trays/cups I found for $1.25 each. I didn't realize it when I bought them, but they have ash trays in one corner. LOL I thought it was a compartment for dip. Oh well.... I think they'll be sweet to use for a little party, as long as I don't invite more than one person. :) I got the two little white trays (under the pink dish) for nuts and mints. They were $0.50 each. The chicken was a bit pricey. I paid $4 for her. LOL I got four cups like the two behind the chicken for $1. They are perfect for pudding. They have a basket design and fruit on them. The clear glass dish with the shells in it was free. Chad bought a bag for $1 at a church rummage sale. Whatever you could fit in the bag, you could have for $1. Well, he bought some computer cables and other things. There was enough room for this little glass dish and a glass bird house for me. It had dried flowers (yellow, brown, and hot pink) and a real, dead butterfly in it. The top was glued on and had some kind of silver tape around it. It had a yellow ribbon tied around the base. It was quite lovely.... Not! But, it had potential. I thought the shape of it was lovely. Dad told me to stick it in the microwave to soften the glue. Mistake! All those flowers and the dead butterfly were attached to wires. I had quite a light show going on in the microwave for a couple of seconds! LOL I then soaked it in hot water and got the glue softened enough to pop it off (after Chad had already scraped quite a bit off with a knife).

Below is a picture of a punch bowl I found for $8. It has eight cups and a dipper. There are grapes on it. I collect things (plates, pitchers, etc.) with grapes. You can see the dish with shells more clearly, also. I don't know why I bought the two little cats. They really aren't my style, but I felt compelled to bring them home anyway. LOL There are milk glass vases with pressed grapes to the right of the punch bowl. They were $1 to $1.50 each.

Pictured below are two little white pitchers with grapes that I just adore. I got the large one for $2.50, and the small one was $0.25. Behind the pitchers to the right is a milk glass planter with a grape motif. I spent way too much for it, $8, but it was really calling my name, so in a moment of weakness, I bought it. I was cheaper than the $12 price that the man at the flea market was asking for it, so I guess it was OK. :)

In the picture below you can see my chicken more closely, and two lamps that I bought. The clear one was $5 at Goodwill, and the white one (milk glass) was $1 at that church rummage sale. The little silver tray to the right was $0.45 at Goodwill. It has grapes on it, too.


In the picture below, you will see my little shutters, which I got for $2. I may paint them white or pink, depending on where I decide to put them (pink if they end up in my bedroom). I love the toolbox in front. I snagged it for all of $2 at Goodwill. I couldn't have even bought the lumber to make one for that much. It will probably be painted white, or maybe a dark red. The little caddy (?) to the left was a horrid bright yellow when I bought it with hot pink (or maybe orange) and green flowers. I'm going to use it for silverware and napkins. I think I spent $0.75 for it. The tray it is setting on was $0.50 from a rummage sale. It was green with a big red apple painted on it. Lovely, I assure you. I tell ya, white paint will fix almost anything.... :)


Well, there you have it, a whole lotta "junk" for not much money.

Judd the Dog

While I was watching Chad sight in his .30-06 for deer season...

I decided to snap a few pictures of Judd the Dog.

Reformation Day

Today is Reformation Day. So, in honor of the day, we're going to have a little celebration. First, we're going to "reform" our kitchen and living room, i.e. we're going to clean. :) Then, we're going to watch Luther (with Joseph Fiennes as Luther). Last night, we watched Empires - Martin Luther. (Note: I'm not an amazon.com affiliate. Those links are just for your information.) We'll also be "indulging" in some frankfurters, kraut, and German chocolate cake. :) And, of course, we'll be singing the Battle Hymn of the Reformation, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, and reading some Scriptures, particularly Romans 1:17, Romans 3:28, and Ephesians 2:8-9. If you don't know much about the Reformation, I encourage you to do a bit of reading about it or watch some videos. We've gotten several from Netflix. It's an absolutely amazing story.

Homemade Pizza Sauce

I had some sub buns left over from ham sandwiches (BTW, the Sara Lee Low Sodium Honey Ham is pretty tasty), so I decided to make pizza bread for dinner. I didn't have any sauce (and am trying to avoid high fructose corn syrup, so I probably won't buy more), so I adapted a recipe (that I didn't like in its original state) and made my own. Here's what I put in it:

• one 8-ounce can of tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil (no, that wasn't a typo...lol)

It was not quite right, so I then added:

• a few sprinkles of red wine vinegar
• a dash of salt
• a couple of grinds' worth of McCormick Pizza Seasoning (the kind in the Grinder bottle)

Well, it turned out pretty good! Chad wants me to make it from now on.

And speaking of giving up high fructose corn syrup, I have had no pop (soda) since Thursday. :) Please pray that this trend continues....

A Pint Can't Hold a Quart...

"A pint can’t hold a quart – if it holds a pint it is doing all that can be expected of it." -- Margaret Deland

I love this quotation. I found it this morning at a blog I've been reading lately, A Quiet Simple Life. She has two posts that have really spoken to me, Thoughts and Quotes on Learning to Say No, and Content at Home Amid the Tyranny of Change.

Why I'm Not on Facebook...

I used to be on Facebook. A friend from church told me that I "needed" to get on there. Ha.... I just found this article today, How Facebook Can Ruin Your Friendships. You have to read the whole article. It's quite funny and explains a few (but not all) of reasons why I'm no longer on Facebook. Here's a little snippet:

"It's called narcissism," says Matt Brown, a 36-year-old business-development manager for a chain of hair salons and spas in Seattle. He's particularly annoyed by a friend who works at an auto dealership who tweets every time he sells a car, a married couple who bicker on Facebook's public walls and another couple so mooshy-gooshy" they sit in the same room of their house posting love messages to each other for all to see. "Why is your life so ******** important and entertaining that we need to know?" Mr. Brown says.

Gwen Jewett, for her part, is sick of meal status updates. "A few of my friends like to post several times a day about what they are eating: 'I just ate a Frito pie.' 'I am enjoying a double hot-fudge sundae at home tonight.' 'Just ate a whole pizza with sausage, peppers and double cheese,'" says the 49-year-old career coach in suburban Dallas. "My question is this: If we didn't call each other on the phone every time we ate before, why do we need the alerts now?"

Apple Cobbler and Whipped Cream

Chad made an apple cobbler for us while ago. I made some whipped cream to put on top. It was very delicious. Here are the recipes:

Easy Cobbler

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 cup milk

1 can pie filling

Melt butter in baking dish in oven while preheating to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix together dry ingredients. Stir in milk. Pour mixture over melted butter. Spoon pie filling on top. Bake for 40 minutes. (The original recipe said to bake it for 50-60 minutes, but that's too long in my oven, so I start checking it at 40 minutes.)

Whipped Cream

1/2 cup sugar

1-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream

a small amount of vanilla, maybe 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon

Chill sugar, beaters (or whisk if your mixer has one), and mixing bowl in freezer. (I usually chill it for about one-half hour.) Pour whipping cream into sugar and beat on highest speed until stiff peaks form. I add the vanilla sometime in the middle. :)

Field Trip

Chad and I went on a field trip with the local homeschoolers' group last Thursday. We went to see the Nina and the Pinta, replicas of two of Columbus' ships. You can learn more about them and see better pictures than I took at their web site. It was a very cloudy day, and it started raining, but thankfully, we were just about finished with the tours when it started. Here are some pictures:

Chad on the Pinta

Chad and the Pinta

Chad and the Nina

On the Nina, Looking at the Pinta

Can Someone Help?

How do you make a line through text when blogging? I've seen many blogs where the blogger will write something, but it has a line marked through it. It can be very funny. Or they might have a list and then mark through the parts of the list they've done. Can someone tell me how to do that? Thanks in advance!

New Lattice

A couple of weeks ago Dad was headed to Lowe's so I asked him if he'd pick up some lattice for me since the old lattice was looking pretty shabby. (Oh, how I would love to have a truck!) He and The Boy put it up for me today on the back deck. You can see the new lattice behind The Boy and a bit of the old lattice to the right of him in the picture (to his left). (Please ignore any junk you see in the picture. ;-] )

Just a Picture of The Boy...

A New Look

I've been wanting a new look for my blog for a long time. I tried a few backgrounds (and they deleted my sidebars...argh), but I couldn't find the right one. I was looking at some one-of-a-kind blog designs, but I really didn't want to buy one (plus, I didn't find one that I really liked). Today, I was reading an article at a web site I like, Old Fashioned Living, and clicked on the name of one of the authors, Brenda Hyde, which took me to her blog (On the Front Porch). She had a cute background, so I clicked on her link to Izzie Grace's Blog Backgrounds and found this one, which I love. And, it was free! Thank you, Izzie Grace!

An Update on the Chickens

Well, I no longer have the chickens. It seems like I never had the money/time to build a new chicken tractor, and the old one just didn't work. We had A LOT of rain this spring, and the chicken run just became a nasty mess even with bunches of straw added to it. Dad started complaining about the chickens and their smell quite frequently (we live on his property), so I gave them all to my cousin earlier this summer. Then I cried.... :( I will have chickens again, but not until I have a proper tractor built for them. I still miss their "talking".

Homeschooling Single Parents

If you're a single parent who is homeschooling or know of one, the HSLDA is doing a survey.

Please consider taking a few minutes to complete it:
http://www.hslda.org/survey/SingleParent/

When I started homeschooling as a single parent, I knew of maybe four others in the whole country. Apparently, the number of single parents who are homeschooling is growing....

Window Blankets

My last electric bill was $189! (Sadly, I heat with electric, and we had a pretty cold December with several nights in the teens/twenties.) So, I went to Family Dollar the other evening and bought three twin-size blankets. (And they even appear to be made in the USA!) I cut them into thirds, and they just cover my windows. We just tacked them up with thumb tacks for right now. I'm eventually going to make quilt tops and backs for them, but I needed to get something up immediately to try to keep the furnace from running so much as we're in another cold snap. It's supposed to be down to around zero later this week. They seem to have helped some. Here's a good article on making window quilts, and it has pictures of the lovely quilts the author made.

The Boy Had a Birthday!

Several months ago...................... LOL

Wow, books!

And a Remington 870!

Changing an Oven Bake Element

A couple of weeks ago, I was preheating the oven to make a fruit cocktail cake. I started hearing a funny noise. I finally realized it was coming from my oven. I opened the door, and it was sparking and glowing. I quickly closed the door and shut the oven off. The Boy promptly reminded me to get the fire extinguisher. I opened the door again, and it was still sparking and glowing. So, I ran in to check the breaker box, and the breaker had not blown. So, I turned it off, or so I thought, according to the way it was marked. Well, I came back and looked in the oven again, and it was still glowing, so, I turned off the breaker above the one I thought was the stove. That finally worked, and the sparking and glowing went out. Sadly, my oven element was burned in two. I thought it would cost a fortune to fix, so I bought a hot plate and have been cooking our meals on that, with the exception of using my Mom's oven twice. One of my brothers in Christ is an appliance repairman, so I was asking him about it, and he said I just needed a new element. Friday, I called the nearest appliance parts store, and they had the element I needed. It was around $30. So, I went to town and picked it up. Saturday, I changed the element. Here's how:

1. Make sure you have turned the breaker for the range off! You don't want to be zapped, right?
2. Remove the screws holding the element in place.
3. Pull out the old element.
4. Clip clothespins (or something similar) onto the wires so that they don't slide back down into the oven. The man at the appliance parts store told me to do that.
5. Pull the wire clip thingies (sorry, don't know the term for them) off the old element.
6. Put the wire clip thingies on the new element.
7. Slide it back into the oven.
8. Replace screws.
9. Turn breaker back on.
10. Cook something yummy in your oven that you just fixed yourself! :-)

These Modern Playthings

These Modern Playthings
(A. W. Tozer, 1897-1963)

"After He had sent the multitudes away, He went up into the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening had come, He was there alone." Matthew 14:23

Modern civilization is so complex as to make the devotional life all but impossible. It wears us out by multiplying distractions, and beats us down by destroying our solitude, where otherwise we might drink and renew our strength before going out to face the world again.

Where is the solitude to which we can retire today?

Science, which has provided men with certain materialcomforts, has robbed them of their souls by surrounding them with a world hostile to their existence. "Commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still" is a wise and healing counsel. But how can it be followed in this day of the newspaper, the telephone, the radio and the television? (Andi: And might I add, the Internet?) These modern playthings, like pet tiger-cubs, have grown so large and dangerous that they threaten to devour us all!

No spot is now safe from the world's intrusion!

Preparedness Articles by Jackie Clay

Jackie Clay writes for Backwoods Home Magazine (my favorite magazine), and she has some fantastic articles on getting prepared. I highly recommend them. Here are links to some of my favorites:

Common Sense Preparedness Just Makes Sense

With Common Sense Planning, You Can Survive Hard Times
(In this article, she gives an inventory of a year's supply of food, which I have found to be very helpful, as well as lists of other necessities. I just wish I had enough money to go out and buy a year's supply of everything we need. Sigh..... )

Jackie's Tips for Hardcore Homesteading

You can click on this link for more of Jackie Clay's articles, as well as articles by others.

100 Items to Disappear First in a Panic

I've seen this list for a few years at various preparedness sites. I just found out today who the author is, Joseph Almond. 1 Timothy 5:8 tells us, "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." So, prepare as best you can.

The List:
1. Generators (Good ones cost dearly. Gas storage, risky. Noisy..target of thieves. Maintenance, etc.)
2. Water filters/purifiers (Shipping delays increasing.)
3. Portable toilets (Increasing in price every two months.)
4. Seasoned firewood (About $100 per cord; wood takes 6 - 12 mos. to become dried, for home uses.)
5. Lamp oil, wicks, lamps (First choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)
6. Coleman Fuel (URGENT $2.69-$3.99/gal. Impossible to stockpile too much.)
7. Guns, ammunition, pepper spray, knives, clubs, bats & slingshots
8. Hand can openers & hand egg beaters, whisks (Life savers!)
9. Honey/syrups/white, brown sugars
10. Rice - Beans - Wheat (White rice is now $12.95 - 50# bag. Sam's Club, stock depleted often.)
11. Vegetable oil (for cooking) (Without it food burns/must be boiled, etc.)
12. Charcoal & Lighter fluid (Will become scarce suddenly.)
13. Water containers (Urgent Item to obtain. Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY)
14. Mini heater head (propane) (Without this item, propane won't heat a room.)
15. Grain grinder (non-electric)
16. Propane cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur by September 1999.)
17. Michael Hyatt's Y2K Survival Guide (BEST single y2k handbook for sound advice/tips.)
18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc. (Without this item, longer-term lighting is difficult.)
19. Baby supplies: diapers/formula/ointments/aspirin, etc
20. Washboards, mop bucket w/wringer (for laundry)
21. Cook stoves (propane, Coleman & kerosene)
22. Vitamins (Critical, due to daily canned food diets.)
23. Propane cylinder handle-holder (Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this item.)
24. Feminine hygiene/hair care/skin products
25. Thermal underwear (tops and bottoms)
26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets & wedges (also, honing oil)
27. Aluminum foil regular & heavy duty (great cooking & barter item)
28. Gasoline containers (plastic or metal)
29. Garbage bags (Impossible to have too many.)
30. Toilet paper, Kleenex, paper towels
31. Milk - powdered & condensed (Shake liquid every 3 to 4 months.)
32. Garden seeds (non-hybrid) (A MUST)
33. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST)
34. Coleman's Pump Repair Kit: 1(800) 835-3278
35. Tuna fish (in oil)
36. Fire extinguishers (or.. large box of baking soda in every room...)
37. First aid kits
38. Batteries (all sizes...buy furthest-out for expiration dates)
39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies
40. BIG DOGS (and plenty of dog food)
41. Flour, yeast & salt
42. Matches (3 box/$1 .44 at Wal-Mart: "Strike Anywhere" preferred. Boxed, wooden matches will go first.)
43. Writing paper/pads/pencils/solar calculators
44. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in wintertime)
45. Work boots, belts, Levis & durable shirts
46. Flashlights/LIGHTSTICKS & torches, "No.76 Dietz" Lanterns
47. Journals, diaries & scrapbooks (jot down ideas, feelings, experiences: historic times!)
48. Garbage cans plastic (great for storage, water, transporting - if with wheels)
49. Men’s hygiene: shampoo, toothbrush/paste, mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, etc.
50. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient)
51. Fishing supplies/tools
52. Mosquito coils/repellent sprays/creams
53. Duct tape
54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
55. Candles
56. Laundry detergent (liquid)
57. Backpacks & duffle bags
58. Garden tools & supplies
59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies
60. Canned fruits, veggies, soups, stews, etc.
61. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
62. Canning supplies (jars/lids/wax)
63. Knives & sharpening tools: files, stones, steel
64. Bicycles...tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc.
65. Sleeping bags & blankets/pillows/mats
66. Carbon monoxide alarm (battery powered)
67. Board games, cards, dice
68. d-Con rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, roach killer
69. Mousetraps, ant traps & cockroach magnets
70. Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks...)
71. Baby Wipes, oils, waterless & anti-bacterial soap (saves a lot of water)
72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.
73. Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave)
74. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)
75. Soy sauce, vinegar, bouillon/gravy/soup base
76. Reading glasses
77. Chocolate/cocoa/Tang/punch (water enhancers)
78. "Survival-in-a-Can"
79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
80. BSA - New 1998 - Boy Scout Handbook (also, Leader's Catalog)
81. Roll-on window insulation kit (MANCO)
82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, trail mix/Jerky
83. Popcorn, peanut butter, nuts
84. Socks, underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras)
85. Lumber (all types)
86. Wagons & carts (for transport to & from open Flea markets)
87. Cots & Inflatable mattresses (for extra guests)
88. Gloves: work/warming/gardening, etc.
89. Lantern hangers
90. Screen patches, glue, nails, screws, nuts & bolts
91. Teas
92. Coffee
93. Cigarettes
94. Wine/liquors (for bribes, medicinal, etc.)
95. Paraffin wax
96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
97. Chewing gum/candies
98. Atomizers (for cooling/bathing)
99. Hats & cotton neckerchiefs
100. Goats/chickens

September is Preparedness Month...

and I haven't posted anything on preparedness!

It looks like we have some serious economic problems headed our way, and winter is quickly approaching. Please go to this link and print off the articles on how to get prepared and then just do it! I'll put up a post sometime later this week with some of my favorite preparedness links, although the one I just gave you is, in my opinion, the most helpful for someone just getting started.

Farm Fresh...

I just went out to check on the chickens and give them some fresh water, and I found another egg. It was so fresh that it was warm. LOL I love it. I can't wait to have a dozen! I ended up frying the eggs last night instead of scrambling them. The Boy really liked them and has been waiting on those hens to lay enough eggs so that he can have more. :-)

A Surprise!

I went out to give the chickens a little "supper" and decided to look in their little coop. Look what I found:
Four little brown eggs! I was so excited. I ran in to show them to The Boy, and we both ran down to Mom and Dad's to show them. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm goin' to scramble some home-raised, semi-free-ranged eggs...... :-)

Note to self: Build nest boxes! Immediately! LOL

Fruit Cocktail Cake

At my church, each family takes turns cleaning the church and bringing snacks for our time of fellowship between Sunday school and the worship service. It was my turn last week, so I made a fruit cocktail cake, and it was a hit. Here's the recipe:

Fruit Cocktail Cake
2 eggs
1 3/4 cup of sugar
2 cups of flour
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of soda
1 teaspoon of vanilla
one 16 ounce can of fruit cocktail (not drained)

Mix ingredients and pour in a greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Sprinkle 1/4 cup brown sugar over batter. (It would be good with nuts sprinkled on it, too, or mixed in the batter, maybe a half cup.) Bake at 325ºF. for 40 minutes.

Topping:
2/3 cup of cream
1/4 pound of margarine (I used butter, NOT margarine.)
1 cup of sugar
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon

Boil topping ingredients for 3-4 minutes. Cut cake while warm and pour topping over cake.

Rooster, Then and Now

Didn't he turn out "purty"?

Free Range Friday Night

Normally, some of the chickens are in a tractor and the others are in a run. We decided to let them free range for a while this evening.....

Chad, a.k.a. The Boy, and dinner....er....I mean.....one of the roosters, Roosty.

An update (01-09-09): It turns out that "Roosty" wasn't a rooster. As first-time chicken keepers, we didn't know that Buff Orpingtons have little combs and wattles, too. LOL So, we only have one rooster, Earl. Ask him what his name is, and he'll say, "Earr-earr-earr-earr-Earlllllll............." How's that for corny? :-)

Go read this....

Herrick Kimball (The Deliberate Agrarian)has a very interesting post today, Emerging Crisis, Population Shift, & The Rural Remnant. I hope to be one of the rural remnant, too, by the grace of God, but it's not going to be easy. I had yet another bad year of gardening. If we had to live off what we raised, we'd be dead. We had several potatoes and a few tomatoes (although small), but nothing else did very well. None of my green peppers did anything, until this month. I have two tiny peppers (one about 2 inches and the other about a half inch). My chickens still aren't laying eggs, although it's costing quite a bit to feed them. Time is short....

I took some quizzes....

I'm a nonconformist....[sarcasm on]big surprise there[/sarcasm off].

You Are 77% Non Conformist

You are a pretty serious non conformist. You live a life hardly anyone understands. And while some may call you a freak, you're happy with who you are.

Are You a Nonconformist?

I'm only 48% brutally honest, though. Now that is a shock. I thought I'd have been a little higher than that....

You Are 48% Brutally Honest

Honesty is important to you, but generally, you try not to be brutal about it. You'll sugar coat the truth when you need to... and tell a white lie when necessary.

How Brutally Honest Are You?

OK, back to cleaning.....