A Proverbs 31 Kind of Day

This is Love!  I'm serious!  It's taken me a while to find it again.  Matter of fact, there for a while I had it but then lost it. But now that I have it back, I don't think I'm going to let it go! This isn't scriptural . . . not even close to theological. It only involves me and my obsession. I was so lost without it that I even called my friend to see if she had "the love." She didn't -- matter of fact, she used to have it too. But lost it!  She's still searching -- It was out of necessity that I rediscovered my love! It's not a pure love -- which can be confusing!  It's a mixed up, kind of weird love!  One that might even sound strange to describe to somebody else. But I'm going to tell you.  It's my fresh smelling laundry!  YES!!!!!  Finally!  Fresh smelling laundry is B.A.C.K and it's hear to stay! I want my laundry smell!  I give my fabrics 3 opportunities to absorb as much fragran

  A few years ago, the Mr. and I were on a little get-a-way.  We stopped one afternoon at a cookie shop and had a great, fresh-baked cookie and some coffee.  That little treat gave me a fabulous idea to do at home!  I couldn't wait to get home with the kids and tell them about our new experience.  We were going to have a "Cookie Bar" for dessert! I made a basic cookie dough recipe and put out all kinds of mix-ins in seperate bowls.  Everybody got a B.I.G. scoop of cookie dough and could stir in whatever their hearts desired!  We baked delicious custom cookies! I don't do this extremely often, but I do enjoy offering it occassionally as an option.  It's especially fun if you're having friends over! Basic Cookie Dough 1 cup butter 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp. vanilla 3 cups flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1/4 tsp. salt Cream butter and sugars together.  Add eggs and vanilla and incorporate well.  Mix in flour, soda, and salt and continue

I've already posted that I'm not a fan of bottled salad dressing.  Because of that, I have several dressings that we like that whip up in a flash.  I try to keep at least one of them on hand, but the other day, I needed a dressing and we were totally out.  I was looking for the poppyseed dressing recipe when I found this one. Which is different than the poppyseed dressing that I've posted earlier. This one doesn't have any mayo in it.  For some, that will be reason enough to give it a try! I've had this recipe for a long time.  I had it for the first time when we were living in Arizona.  This dressing keeps well in the refrigerator for several weeks . . . if it lasts that long at your house! Donna's Poppyseed Dressing 3/4 cups sugar 1 tsp. dry mustard dash of salt 1/3 cup vinegar 1 cup salad oil 1 Tbsp. plus 1 1/2 tsp. poppy seeds Mix the sugar, dry mustard, salt and vinegar together.  Stir well.  Add the salad oil and poppy seeds.  Whisk until

Today, I enjoyed having friends in our home to listen to the work of our friends who are serving on the mission field in London, England. For dessert we had a traditional British dessert called "Banoffee Pie."  The 'Brits' say it's an American dessert.  I was totally unaware of this dessert and had definitely never had a taste! Once we cleaned the dishes . . .and maybe scraped the edge of the pan of the left-over goodies, I looked on the web for some Banoffee Pie history.  Here's what I found from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. A slice of banoffee pie.Banoffee pie (also spelled banoffi, or banoffy) is an English pastry based dessert made from bananas, cream, toffee from boiled condensed milk (or dulce de leche), either on a pastry base or one made from crumbled biscuits and butter. Some versions of the recipe also include chocolate and/or coffee.Credit for the cake's invention is claimed by Ian Dowding and Nigel Mackenzie at The Hungry Monk r

This is my Spring table.  It's in my formal dining room.  Why do we have a "formal" dining room . . .that we NEVER use . . .so that we can have a pretty decorated table to look at! This Spring, I used black, white, silver, cream, and glass. Added in a bit of Spring flowers and a bit of grass to get an airy look. The silver was what I had stashed under the china cabinet. For the dishes, I went to the Goodwill store and bought mix and match plates and bowls.  I even found a couple of silver trays to use as chargers.  For less than $10.00 I bought what I needed to get "the look." My silver teapot holds some silverware, some wispy grass and a bird. You can never have enough birds!  They're so cute!  You can tuck them  . . .and nestle them . . .they're just perfect! You'll need some "Reindeer Moss" to use around your table (that's what you see pecking out of the white bird nest).  It'

I love strawberries. My oldest cherub loves strawberry sauce.  You know the kind --- in a jar that you glump onto your ice cream.  I don't like that stuff.  It taste fake to me.  Do you think it's fake? Today we stopped by Braum's (the best ice cream store in the world) and bought some ice cream.  I was going with the plain ol' vanilla.  I sold them on that idea because of all the things we could do with it: put it on top of the apple pie that's sitting on the counter drizzle some yummy King Arthur "Gold" caramel sauce on it put some crushed up Girl Scout cookies in it put some Golden Graham cereal and marshmallows in it with a bit of hot fudge sauce  . . .I was just getting ready to name another option  . . .  . . . When the boy cherub, who is getting a mind of his own says, "Mom, will you buy some strawberry sauce?"  Yuck!  I don't like that stuff . . . but I'm trying to sell him on the idea of vanilla ice cream . . .

This is my cherub. He was one of the kids who got to carry in a flag at the all-school worship recently. He knew I had the camera . . . he wasn't going to humor me by looking! That's him -- on the top row, second from the left.  Doesn't he look thrilled?  He carried in the flag that represented Costa Rica. That's his back-side.  Do you think he turned around and gave a big smile?  If you said "No" then you're right!  He acts like I'm the only mom there with a camera . . .how embarrassing!

Yesterday, I needed a side to put with our grilled chicken.  Quick-like, I thought of potatoes!  They're often under-rated but potatoes are actually so delicious and extremely versatile! Roasted Gold Potatoes 1 yukon gold potato per person olive oil Herbs de Provence coarse sea salt Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Wash potatoes well and dice the potatoes into whatever size you like, just keep it uniform in size for even bake time.  If your potatoes are small, you may want to throw in a couple of extra just to be safe. Place diced potatoes in large bowl and drizzle with olive oil, maybe a couple of tablespoons.  Sprinkle a generouls amount of Herbs de Provence in the bowl.  Use a large spoon to toss potatoes until well coated. Pour onto a foil lined baking sheet.  Sprinkle with a smidge of sea salt.  Herbs de Provence has thyme, rosemary, basil, tarragon, lavender flower, and savory in the mix.  It is salt free -- that's why you need to add a bit of salt to

I'm almost embarrassed to show you this project .  . . but as I say that, I realized that I am posting it -- and only I am in control of that -- so the embarrassment factor must be relatively low!  What I should say is, I see room for improvement! The color of the picture is a bit distorted -- but the idea was there!  Can you tell what these are?  If you said, "Some type of tool" then you are right!  They are saws! It's "Tool Time with Dad" today at school and I thought I'd make this as a treat.  Sounds easy enough -- but then the trouble begin! I don't have a tool cookie cutter. I looked at all of the places by me -- you know, the convenient places.  They don't have anything.  Really, did I think they would?  The answer to that is, "Yes!  I did!"  But, they didn't! I finally found a place that carried tool cookie cutters.  They weren't that expensive -- and that's the point.  I really didn't want to drive AL

Many years ago, like . . . M.A.N.Y years, Laronda, a friend of mine, turned me on to Dale's marinade.  This was nearly 20 years ago, and at that time Dale's was hard to find.  It is made in Birmingham, AL.  At that time, it was easier to get The Washington Post than it was to get Dale's; but who really cares about "The Post!"  We wanted Dale's!  Because it was "exclusive," that made it even more special! Fast-forward 20 years and now Dale's is in basically every store I shop!  It's usually towards the top of the shelf, on the same aisle with ketch-up, b-b-q sauce, and other fancy condiments! I just LOVE Dale's.  I think I could drink it right from the bottle.  No!  I haven't tried it -- but I've been tempted! Here's what I do with my Dale's, in numerical order! I always but 2 or 3 bottles at a time; I never want to be without the stuff. I but lots of chicken breasts. I buy lots of gallon siz

I love to read The Pioneer Woman .  She's so creative in her writing style, she gives good recipes, and she's down right funny!  Not too long ago I heard somebody say that her cinnamon rolls were the best.  As you know, we're always on a quest for good cinnamon rolls.  The problem is that I'm afraid of yeast!  That's right!  I have a fear of yeast -- I don't know what to do with it!  I don't know how to make good bread!  Yeast has a hold on me! It makes me feel like a failure! But I try to overcome my fear and occasional try something with yeast in it.  After all, I keep a fresh jar of yeast in my refrig. just for the instances when I get an urge to try and conquer the dreaded yeast recipe! I read The Pioneer Woman's recipe for cinnamon rolls . . . and I thought to myself, "I can do this!" I thought that the other day . . . I thought it the day after that . . . I thought it yesterday . . .  . . .and today I gave in! I made cin

The other day I was having to get a prescription filled.  I had taken the time to fill out all of the necessary info on the little piece of paper so that they could verify I am who I say I am!  My doctor had filled out my name and birthday . . .  . . .and that's where it gets funny! The pharmacy tech had made eye contact with me SEVERAL times.  Did I say she had made eye contact with me SEVERAL times?  So, when she verified my birthday as October, 1920, I about died!  REALLY?!!!!!! Did you just say, " 1920 ?"  I laughed out loud, like not even trying to hide the fact that I thought that was a stupid comment, and I told her, "If I were born in 1920, I wouldn't be driving -- my kids would have taken my keys away!" That would have made me 91 years old ! Honestly! You know what -- I should have said, "Yeah -- don't I look darn good for my age!"  Born:  October, 1920! 

I remember studying different learning styles while in graduate school.  I totally believe we have a preferred way of learning; and consequently, when given those preferred opportunities, we are able to devour our material.  With that said . . . The other day, I was needing to help both of our cherubs with up-coming tests.  My youngest cherub was THRILLED when I pulled out the "Barbisol," as she calls it, so that she could work on her spelling words.  She has always loved playing in shaving cream, and while I don't do it often enough, it's always a fun way for her to practice some rather mundane skills.  I know it makes a mess -- but if you haven't tried it, pick up a cheap can of men's shaving cream and watch your kids get excited about spelling . . .or math . . .or anything else you need to work on with them!  Preparing the work space It's a "full-hand" experience!  You gotta keep the writing finger clean! So whil