basic meal - deluxe!

Okay this is how I formulate a basic casserole. I am from MN which is the land of hotdish. Anything can be a casserole! So this is how we do it. First You need to decide what kind of casserole is it going to be, noodle ( can be macaroni, spaghetti, rice, potato or bean) Then Secondly you add the meat if you are adding meat that is. I look in my fridge and find leftover meat shredded chicken, ground beef-can be meatloaf even!, salmon ( hey it is alaska!), game meats, or I pull a can of tuna from the pantry. Thirdly veggies- easy part- a can of green beans, peas, corn, carrots, can bed frozen too, or cooked fresh. So you take these 3 items and you dump it in a buttered casserole dish. But it is dry! So we have to add some sauce. So here comes number Four aka the sauce. Is is Italian- then add a can of pasta sauce, mexican- cream of chicken soup and salsa, basic home-cooking- can of mushroom soup, garlic and pepper.Asian: golden mushroom and soy sauce ( I use bragg's liquid aminos) The list goes on and on. What is in your pantry is what is in your dish! If you are feeding a larger group of people use a can of milk with the cream soup, or a family size can, or add a can of tomato sauce with the pasta sauce to stretch it out. Then we decide about the optional number 4 and 5 Add-ins and Add-ons. Add-ins are items you add to the mixed in dish like- olives, onions, shredded cheese, mushrooms, herbs, pepper and salt. Add-ons are what you put on top, crushed chips or crackers, chow mein noodles, more cheese, sliced tomatoes ( I wouldn't be from MN if I didn't mention tater-tots or frozen french fries!)... Then bake in oven at 350 until bubbly and hot all the way through. Serve with something like buns, salad, dessert. But this is truly a stand alone dish. You can have every food group in one pan! Easy clean up as well... Start cleaning out your fridge and have fun! And if you need any inspiration just look HERE to see what happened when I typed in tuna hotdish! Yum yum.

a pretty watercolor

By Breton. Here is a link to more by the same artist: Breton watercolors

Yikes. I think I know..

What My God is talking about here...Jeremiah 10: 2 Thus says the LORD, "Do not learn the way of the nations, And do not be terrified by the signs of the heavens Although the nations are terrified by them; 3 For the customs of the peoples are delusion; Because it is wood cut from the forest, The work of the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool. 4 They decorate it with silver and with gold; They fasten it with nails and with hammers So that it will not totter.

Modest Handmaidens

took their time and made a great links page. Please take the time and check them out. HERE

Festival Of Lights

lovely photos my husband took

He said, "Where's the camera I see some art!"



want to know more about hoar frost- if so check this out: Hoarfrost Formation

Have you used your imagination today-

One Inch Tall


If you were only one inch tall, you'd ride a worm to school.
The teardrop of a crying ant would be your swimming pool.
A crumb of cake would be a feast
And last you seven days at least,
A flea would be a frightening beast
If you were one inch tall.

If you were only one inch tall, you'd walk beneath the door,
And it would take about a month to get down to the store.
A bit of fluff would be your bed,
You'd swing upon a spider's thread,
And wear a thimble on your head
If you were one inch tall.

You'd surf across the kitchen sink
upon a stick of gum.
You couldn't hug your mama, you'd just have to hug her thumb.
You'd run from people's feet in fright,
To move a pen would take all night,
(This poem took fourteen years to write--
'Cause I'm just one inch tall). - Shel Silverstein

Pay if Forward

I have been gifted in the Pay It Forward Blog exchange. I recieved this lovely set for my kitchen. from Mrs.Smith at Our Plain and Simple Life.
It's almost too pretty to use! I also received this lovely set of coasters ( my wedding colors!) from Mrs. Booth over at Suburban Homestead but I didn't want to hide them under a cup so I added ribbons and hung them on my living room wall.

PIF

Pay if Forward. I got some goodies in the mail. From two sweet sisters!!! More info to come. Now I get to PIF!!!!

end of our rope(s)

This week has been pretty tame. We have been recooperating from surgery and getting ready for Hanukkah. HUsband showed the boys how to make rope- he made a rope-machine and they employed some of mommy's embroidery floss to create friendship bracelets.











interesting rope-making website:
Rope Maker

7 worst foods to consume.- Yikes.

Read this before you go grocery shopping- please.

cheese danish YU MMY!

Note: I doubled it and put it in an 11x13 pyrex pan.

EASY CHEESE DANISH

2 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese
3/4 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
3 tsp. lemon juice
1 egg yolk
2 cans crescent rolls
1 egg white
1 tsp. water

Butter a 9x13 inch pan. Spread 1 can of crescent rolls in bottom of pan. Press seams together with fingers.

Mix cream cheese, vanilla, lemon juice and egg yolk together; spread over rolls. Cover with second can of rolls.

Mix and spread on top 1 teaspoon water and egg white. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Although the recipe calls for a 9x13 pan, I use a slightly larger one, preferring the Danish not so thick.

He is the Great Physican

My husband and son made it through their tonsillectomy and adnoidectomy and they are already starting to eat soft foods. I have to keep an eye on my younger son's temperature though as he has a slight fever. I was so thankful to have a sister in Christ as our nurse! We are so blessed. God is so good! I am hoping this takes care of my husband's sleep apnea and my son's need for so many allergy medications to breathe.
(also the night before my son had to go to the emergency room because he tried to break a piece of scrap sheetrock with his head like kung-fu guys do. He sprained his neck. So he is doubly recuperating.)


My brave little man!


My "bigger" brave man!


My "Nurse's Helper" middle brother.


And my other "Nurse's helper" Teddy Bear.

photo update.

My husband and I in front of our newly painted bedroom wall.


The room almost finished for our middle son.


What happens when you complain too much to dad about how hard it is to hold the ice pack on your boo-boo. Hee hee.


Now he is all "recovered"


and finally (if you are super-squeamish don't scroll down) but we caught three mice ( not blind mice!) in our pantry. My husband has "gone to war" with them and is currently at the home-improvement store buying more ammo aka glue traps. Here is a photo of one of the guilty parties. Unfortunately he is rather cute... but destructive and dirty. I have been wiping down everything with a tea tree oil soap solution. On a funnier note my little dog for some reason thinks that when we catch a mouse he is the one who actually did it and walks around with his head held high and his tail in tha air. We all pat him and say "Good job!" It is rather funny.
So

without

further

ado
*
*
*

* here is pipsqueak* First photo I ever took of a live mouse. He doesn't look much like "mickey" does he?

crochet and more

some free patterns. I made the bible cover for my husband. I would suggest doubling the yarn though..

one pot cooking= less dishes.

I have been trying to cut down on the number of dishes I have had to wash. I was pretty good at doing this when we lived in the rv but since I now have a "normal stove" I have noticed that I spend much time doing dishes. And this isn't my favourite chore! So this past week I have gone back to my one pot cooking. Tonight this is what I made for supper. Broccoli, Macaroni and cheese and Beef sausages. This is how I did it: First I put a large pot of water on to boil- into that I dumped a bag of frozen broccoli and the sausages. I let this cook a while. After has cooked until almost done I dumped in three boxes of mac and cheese. When macaroni is cooked I drain into colander. - put the sausages on a plate and then dump the broccoli mac mixture back in. I follow the mac and cheese directions except I add some sour cream to make it more creamy and flavorful. I also sprinkle with seasoning. Serve. So In one pot I was able to hit all the food groups and best of all ONE POT TO WASH! Yesterday I made a one pot meal of beans rice and chicken. So what can you make in one pot? Be creative!

What do you do when a friend hurts you?

What if the friend is a christian? What if she isn't? Is it the same?

no H E double tooth-picks?

watch this:

HERE

Moosely just hanging out..

Right outside our door. A female moose. She took a nap in the leaves we raked up then just hung around a bit.

She was a little bit camera
shy. every time I went to snap a pic she turned around.

Daddy's home!

We watched Faith like Potatoes
A very good christian movie. I recommend it.
The boys were very interested in this
movie.

Daddy and I snuggled while watching the movie as well.


It is good to have my husband home. The only person missing is our eldest as he is at school. I await the holiday's to see him again. Then it will feel like home.

pies

Here are some pies I made for a bake sale. I sold 5 pies at 20.00 each. The money all goes to missions. I also sold fudge.

flu vaccine?

I am glad I saw this. Yuck yuck and more yuck.
HERE

Sing a song unto the Lord!

what a good song site:


Heavenly Midis

Gas prices in Anchorage

Yesterday:
$3.24

Week ago:
$3.28


Month ago:
$3.26

Year ago:
$3.99

How about your neck of the woods?

I'm not who I was ( for my sister)

Who can wash away my sin?

Who can make me white as snow?



Paula When I hear this song I think of you. I love you and it is not to late. We can all be restored.
WATCH AND LISTEN HERE

(home) school portraits 2009

My two youngest.

Middle G



Youngest G



now I have to figure out how to get eldest G's pic....

termination dust

Oh no! That ain't powdered sugar up there.
termination dust is alaskan slang defined as:
The first, light dusting of snow; on the very tips of the mountains. It's a warning. The first, big snow is just around the corner. This of course, triggers a huge shopping frenzy

still sick

ughhh. I wish I was better. I so want to be better!

the week thus far

The door I painted per husband's request. ( I will paint other door and window trim when I kick this nasty bronchitis)



I bought some long-johns at Sam's club. I laughed so hard when I put them on because they were sooooo long. I looked like a Shar-Pei! I was able to fold them up and they are very nice and warm as winter is in the air. But I thought it was funny! I guess these are "amazon long-johns" ( janes?)


and my dog before and after the groomer. ( needs no words does it?)

just as I imagined it read

When my darling was home

some random photos:
Him taking a photo of me with the new camera



my husband holding a friend's baby


and our addition getting worked on.

church luncheon

We were entertained by some lovely singers from Africa. ( notice the lovely modest dresses and headcoverings?)

Then the Director of Youth got to try on a "typical" african garment. He's under there somewhere. and yes christians and not just muslims dress like this.

My youngest drinking punch and working hard on being a gentlemen during the presentation. They did very well and I am so proud of them!

The lads in concert.

The boys had a great time at The Lads concert. They really liked the song- My Best Friend is the Creator of the Universe.

We also brought a little girl we knew.

The boys are still singing the songs!

suet from scratch

beef suet ( free from the meat market of the grocery store)



melted down. ( my boys kept asking what smells good. ughhhh!) then. I kept the pure liquid fat and threw out the rest. I put the liquid fat in a bowl and mixed in raisins that had been plumped in water and oats.



Then I put the whole thing into square pyrex dishes and let set-up. It comes out of the pan easily.



I put it in a suet-holder I found on clearance for 2.00 ( I also have a second one stored away for this winter that I got free off freecycle.)



and another look...



so far our favourite visitor has been the stellar jay.