Runaway Hound

Just popping in for a quick post. Darling and his cousin Aaron were hunting coyotes today before supper with the hounds. One of the hounds is still out there, wondering around and doesn't seem to want to be caught. She had a good run, took a coyote down, but the coyote took off and she chased it. It is ten o'clock and the guys just left again after a quick supper, cup of coffee and dry socks. Hopefully they will get home soon. Ruby (the hound) must be exhausted by now, she's been out for about 9 hours. She has some extra food and paw conditioner coming her way tonight. I had a good time with Tara, Aaron's wife. We talked and talked about all sorts of things including husbands and dogs lol. It was so nice to have someone to chat with and help eat some of the supper I spent a couple hours making( the guys ate some, just 3 hours later than us gals did!). Tara brought a yummy salad and good humor. Well, I'm gona clean up the dishes and snuggle down, waiting for the guys to call with hopefully, good news. P.S. Despite the turn of events the guys said they are still glad they went today and enjoyed themselves! I on the other hand, would be a *little* on the grumpy side by now! I'm such a wimp when it comes to being cold, I can't stand it! Good night, update to follow.

My hens started laying!

 Finally, after what seemed like forever (9 months) my Dorking hens have started to lay eggs! They are a heritage breed, so they take a little longer to get going than hybrids such as the Pearl White Leghorn, which start as early as 4 months. I've only gotten four eggs so far, but am sure the production will pick up as the weather warms. 

I have the day off from work today, and spent most of yesterday on the road with my Darling. We have company coming tonight for supper, my husband's cousin and his lovely wife. I haven't had the chance to get the house back in order so guess what i'm going to be doing all day? 

Tonight's menu:

BBQ chicken

mashed potatoes

Gravy

Salad

Brown rice with cheese and veggies

 Dessert: Strawberry cheese cake (yes, from a box lol)

Have a good day everyone!

Cleaning Tid-Bits

"Accomplishment Feels Better Than The Guilt Of Procrastination."

Isn't that the truth. It does always seem to feel better to wash the dishes before going to bed, or folding those baskets of laundry while watching a movie instead of "later, sometime". I saw this quote on alejandra.tv, now it is on my cupboard door:)

This is a tote I got at the Salvation Army for $1.99. It was just what I was looking for to keep all my common cleaning supplies in . I was tired of running back and forth to find cleaners, scrub brushes, rags, etc. 

Now I can "tote" everything from one mess to the next, and there is no more searching for stuff. It is sturdy, and has deep, roomy pockets. Plus, it's pink and just plain cute lol.

 Sprayway Glass Cleaner is the best glass cleaner I have every used. It doesn't streak and cuts through grime easily. I love to use this with the blue automotive paper towels, because they don't leave lint-like particles behind.

 And of course, who doesn't love the smell and performance of Pledge? I use it to dust pretty much everything.

 Then there is Scrub Free, which I use for an all purpose cleaner. It smells so good!

 And the Quickie scrub brush is great for scrubbing my floors, especially the kitchen. I don't like the scrub brushes with the handles, because I feel like I don't have full control of the brush and can't put enough scrubbing power into it.

 These are my newest addition to my tote, Glam Gloves. Aren't they cute? I usually only wear them when I'm working with harsh chemicals, like bleach or oven cleaner, otherwise they kinda bug me, lol. I know, weird right?

 Speaking of oven cleaner, I was cleaning the bathroom one day and getting fed up with the soap scum in the shower, when Darling said "Hey, why don't you try oven cleaner?". Really? I was thinking. Do you want your skin to peel off the next time you take a shower? Well, what the heck I'll try anything at this point. After all, if I rinse it well, it should be fine. Guess what? IT WORKED! Why didn't I think of it before? I could almost just wipe the scum right off! No more aching elbows due to the awful scum! This is my new shower/tub cleaner, I'm telling you it's awesome. Goodbye tub rings! Hello clean! Thank you Darling!

Everything fits with out stuffing and huffing. That wraps up today's post. I hope you all have a good day.Take care Gals and Guys. :)

    

Snowed in on a Sunday

With 18-20 inches around our area, and snow drifts up to nearly three feet up on the hill ...

 Darling on the tractor, moving snow.

 Little bun-buns staying nice and cozy.

Having "home church" and thinking of our church family in Wytopitlock....

 We sang some hymns; Crown Him With Many Crowns, The Old Rugged Cross and Rock of Ages...

 Studied 1 Peter with John MaCarthur via Grace To You www.gty.org on the topic of "You are what you think".

 Then it was time for a little lunch. Darling made english muffin pizzas with onion on top *yum*.

 I made a big cup of tea to help fight off my cold and sniffles.

Hope y'all are having a blessed day and staying warm!

Introducing...Love

Hello!!! Well, it seems I either have time to blog, Or I have batteries for the camera! I have a couple more posts up my sleeves at this moment, but I want to take some pics to go with it. (I love blog pics lol.)
   Here is the recipe for HOME MADE CHINESE:

You will need: 2 lbs thin spaghetti ( I use angel hair and sometimes whole wheat, or whatever I have on hand)
                      1 lb frozen stir fry vegetables
                      1 jar of stir fry sauce (for 2 lbs, 2 jars really tastes great, but you can get by with 1, just keep in mind that if you have leftovers, the pasta will absorb the sauce and may leave the stir fry a little dry.)
                      Soy sauce
                      Brown sugar

I found the stir fry sauce in the Asian isle at Hannaford. They have a couple different flavors. So far, I've only used the original. I also like using lite soy sauce, not quite as much sodium as the regular. 

 Joe really likes the mixed veggies with the water chestnuts, it gives the stir fry a good crunch.

Ok, start boiling water for the pasta.
Then drizzle some olive oil in a big pan with sides ( keep in mind you will want to add your pasta to the pan later, and you'll want room to stir). Then stir 1-2 TBSP of brown sugar into the oil with a whisk. Add a couple TBSP of soy sauce, stir it in. Cook your pasta and add your frozen veggies to your fry pan. Once you get your veggies thawed and they start to "crisp" in the pan, add your stir fry sauce *yum*.
After you get that going in good shape and your pasta is done, drain your noodles and add them to your pan. Then I stir everything and get it mixed, and fry it until the noodles just start to get a LITTLE crispy, usually only takes 2-5 minutes, not long because you don't want to burn them (obviously).
   Then dish out to smiling faces and hand out the chopsticks!!!! *Awesome* Be careful, you may end up eating this stuff every week for forever!!!!
   This makes enough for Joe and I to have 2 meals and leftovers for his lunch for work a couple times.

I hope you enjoy it! I made this up after looking for recipes for Lo Mien on Google. I didn't  find any single recipe that I liked the sound of, so this is kind of a mix of different ones. It is sure to curb any Chinese craving for a lot less than take out!!!

Dear Baby...

Dear Baby,
     Yesterday was a rather long day. It was supposed to be the big day, the day your Daddy and I were going to meet you. Sure, you and I would have been very much acquainted the only way a mother and child could be. But I would have finally gotten to hold your little warm bundle of a body close to my heart and kiss your soft cheek. To see your little eyes sparkling,  maybe they were green, like mine have turned out to be. Your little fist, wrapped tightly around my finger as you made little gurgling and sucking noises while visitors oohed and ahhed at your little perfectness. I'll be frank; I miss you. I wish you didn't have to go so soon. We had dreamed you would stay with us for a very long time. We thought we would get to teach you how to walk, tie your shoes, ride a bike, feed the chickens and pet a newborn animal. I thought you would get to make me several paintings to hang on the fridge with your little hands. Was I to make you pretty little dresses to spin in and pretend you were a princess? Or were you to dress in overalls and be Daddy's little man? Regardless of who you are, I can assure you,  we love you. We would have given anything to keep you with us. My heart aches for you. Some times tears still fall from my eyes when I think of you, because I love you so  much. I know you are in the best hands now, I just wish you could have held mine first. Until I meet you someday, I'll still love you.
                  Love always,
                                 Mamma

Oh, boy!

Wow! Hi y'all! Our computer has been having fits and we just got it fixed. We took it to my cousin and he put Windows XP on it, which it used to have Windows Vista. I totally agree with my older brother, "Vista is the oops between Windows xp and Windows 7." Lol. Yup indeed.
     Anyway, what's been happening?

• lasagna making
• strawberry cobbler eating
• Thinking about starting a rehab program for dogs who chew heels. (seriously, the second pair in less than a month! Really?! I just want ONE pair, just one! Apparently, that is too much to ask. I even had this pair "put up", I guess just not high enough!) *Roar*
• coffee drinking
• buying bulk yeast from Sam's club with my mother-in-love. (side note: mozzarella cheese is $11.00/5 lbs down there!!!!) 
• working at the store
• having an affair with a new favorite dish that I will share soon!!!!
• keeping warm
• snuggling with my Darling

And then the usual we all love:

• dishes
• laundry
• cleaning
• etc.

So, I am hoping to get back to you soon! And get my printer going :-)
  God bless!!!!!

P.S the movie COURAGEOUS is totally awesome, everyone should see it!

Epiphany

Recently, I met Joe at the restaurant one morning when he got off night shift. While sitting there drinking coffee I was spacing out during the guys conversations. They usually ranged from politics to discussing who thought their way was the best way to plow. On the wall by the kitchen I saw the familiar plaque that read: "Those who are organized are just too lazy to look for things." Well, today it hit me. If a robber ever broke into our house, we don't have to worry, they wouldn't be able to find anything. I've been doing a little here and there, but nothing major. Maybe it will all add up and then the whole house will be done...yeah ok. Jesus will probably be back in person before then, who knows? Have a good day!  

Blooper

Thought you might get a laugh out of this...

Project Bathroom...

Hello folks! I'm tackling the bathroom next. Here are some photos of the mess...

 I have to be careful when I open the cabinet doors, there is so much "stuff" crammed in there. Everything is floating around, large and small, I think a few containers will make it much better.

 And usually 'clean' clothes get draped on the door hook until they fall on the floor and have to be picked up.

Well, that's the project I'm starting. Happy December y'all!!!!

Update

Hello everyone, I'm still alive lol. Things have been pretty crazy around here lately, but I've discovered that when your car breaks down, you don't have anymore valid excuses not to do your house work ;-) Here are some pictures of what my kitchen looked like before I was done cleaning and organizing...

   Doesn't that just make you nuts inside???? So, here is what it looks like now...

Hope that wasn't too bad.
     HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!! I hope you have a great day and eat a whole lotta grub!!!!

ORGANIZING...

Hello everyone!
Figured I'd better pop in before someone thinks I moved to another planet!
Ok, so, I still have boxes upstairs of stuff that I haven't unpacked since I moved to Carroll. I moved 8 months ago. Yeah. That being said, that means I haven't set up my sewing/craft room/ office yet. I came across this professional organizer on the internet. Her name is Alejandra and here is the link: http://alejandra.tv/ She has a lot of good ideas on so many things! I look at her pantry tour and all but drool-she is THAT good. Sometimes, things that she organizes doesn't bother me so it looks like she has OCD, but then, maybe it's just that I am too unorganized to see it. It helped watching her videos and joining her 7 day free trial to jump-start my organizing projects.
     I started in the worst room first, the guest room. We don't really use it except that is where our dresser and clothes closet is, so when I am overwhelmed with clutter, I've been dumping it in boxes and stacking them in there and shut the door. I know, that's really bad, isn't it? Some things I had no clue how to organize, it didn't seem to have a category ( most of that kind of stuff is Joe's, so I need him to help me go through it and let me know what he wants to do with it). I'm getting there. Pretty much I have already took stuff out of the room that doesn't belong there, and will start putting it away when I get some time off. Maybe I'll do some before and after pictures.
     I hope you have a good day!