This Week At Home, 2012, Week 18

Little notes I write each day to remember each precious one!  

Sunday...

Awesome sermon on being content.  I am glad that we will get to discuss it on Friday with our small group.  After our lunch of leftover burgers, which sounds blah, but was really yummy, the guys went to get haircuts, where they ran into Grace who was getting a haircut while out with her nana.  When the guys got home and Grace returned, we spent some time working on the yard. I weeded and the guys mowed.  Grace made a fruit salad and brought us water.  We finished off the crock pot lasagna for dinner.  Deep Space Nine was our evening's entertainment.  Slowly, I am starting to like the characters, but am not happy with the themes of some of the shows, a little too suggestive.

Saturday's grilling out 

Monday...

The oven repair man is coming this morning!  My guess is that he won't be able to fix it because the part will either no longer be made or more expensive than a new oven.  Either way, I am making chicken in my slow cooker today, which I must get in the cooker soon!

We have our last week of Sonlight to finish this week, always a sad week.  Thankful that we will have another year of Sonlight to start in August.  But this week will be the last of what has been a great year of learning together.  OK, not the last week.  We have two or three more after this to finish up other subjects and get our 180 days all in.

Other than lessons, I need to catch up laundry, keep the kids working on cleaning up their messes, and take Grace to dance. The parents are invited to watch the last 15 minuets as they've prepared a little number for us.

They got hair cuts! 

Tuesday...

Seemed like a long day.  We got right to our lessons.  After lunch, we worked on a quick tidy up.  Then we had our little friend over to play.  It was stormy this afternoon, so we couldn't play outside.  I spent some time doing laundry.  It's finally caught up for a moment in time. Grace went to art class. I made three bean chili with zucchini.  (The oven is still out.)  We measured 2 inches of rain in the gauge today.  Wow!

Three Bean with Zucchini

1# pound of lean ground meat (I use grass fed beef, but turkey or bufalo would be good)
2 medium zucchini, cubed
3  15oz. cans of your favorite beans (I used white kidney, black, and pinto)
1 cup whole wheat pasta, cooked and drained 
1 large can of tomato juice
2 or 3 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 chopped onion (you'll want to cook with the zucchini if you  choose this)or 1 t of onion powder
1T chili powder
1t cumin  
salt and pepper to taste
*next time I am going to add some frozen corn  to the mix.

Brown your meat and drain if needed.  Add garlic and zucchini.  Cook until tender.  Add the rest and simmer just a little while. 

Bird Killer Want To Be

Wednesday...

I did not sleep straight through the night, so I felt sleepy all day.  Lessons were done. We finished our history "spine."  For a brief moment, I thought about saying we could get out next year's book, which is already here and waiting, but then, I decided we really do need a rest.  We still have lots to keep us busy for another couple weeks. 

There is warm, moist air coming into the atmosphere, making it humid and not as pleasant.

Tonight is the AWANA party night.  We'll have an extended time for the girls to work on their books.  At my table, one girl finished two books this year, one just finished a book last week, one started a book and finished the first section last week, and I have one girl who is stuck in the middle of her book that she started last year. 

For dinner, we're having pancakes, sausage, and fruit.  I don't have that oven working just yet.  There is a dilemma to be worked out.  The oven is 27 inches, a space saver.  The new ovens are 30 inches or so.  The old one is over 45 years old.  The part will cost hundreds of dollars.  But a new oven won't fit in the space without redoing the cabinets.  Ugh.  Times like this I am glad I don't have to make the decision.

Thursday...

Another day, much the same as the others, which is just fine with me!  Although, Trevor and I did make a quick trip to the library and bakery before lessons.  We watched our little friend in the afternoon.  I made grilled cheese and a big salad for dinner.  We had fruit, too.  I don't know if I'll make it without baking a home made pizza this week.  I make one every week!  

Grace's latest. 

Friday...

Waking up to cooler weather and a big blob of stuff headed our way via the radar.  Tonight is small group, here.  Today we will finish up loose ends with lessons and then tidy the house.  Dinner will be spaghetti, salad and fruit.

She has a hard time staying awake for lessons. 

Have an excellent weekend!  I'll write more about ours on Monday.  Let's just say we have an adventure planned and the weather probably won't cooperate. 
~Jenn

Wordless Wednesday: Fun with Nana

These pictures were sent to me via Nana while on a couple recent "missions of fun" with Grace.

Fun hair time! 

Future plans. 

Taking Nana to the art show. 

Smoothie time! 

Let's Go to an Art Show, Shall We?

This Week At Home, 2012, Week 17

Little notes I write, as reminders of these precious days!

How can this be comfy?  She thinks it is! 

Sunday...

Another lovely day together.  Jeff finished mowing, after having to go get more gasoline.  Grace's ear infection seems to be getting better, but it's still best that we did not go camping last night as we desired.  We grilled out again.  Ah, I love that smell!  We had chicken tenders (grilled), salad, and strawberries mixed with blueberries with home made whipped cream on top.  

Monday...

A rare day, indeed!  We were home all day, no running.  Gym is over.  Dance was cancelled due to the instructor being ill with the flu.  We fought our natural tendency to loaf on slower paced days.  We got everything done, except French and adequate AWANA drill.  They will have to make those up on their own time.

I'm off to fold laundry and watch a "no-think" show that Grace and I like, "My Fair Wedding."   Oh those poor brides with no taste!  Well, they get their dream wedding in the end. I do hope they get their dream marriage, too.  I remember well how Jeff was so wise to keep reminding me when we were planning our wedding, that it was just a day and marriage was forever, wise man, indeed! 

Dinner is home made pizza, broccoli slaw, and grapes.  

(By the way, the cat is the only one around here who will let me take her picture and not complain when I put it on the blog.) 

Tuesday...

Another slower paced day around here.  (Yay!)  Most of us got through our lessons in a timely manner.  One of us rushed through his thinking he could then play a new game on the computer for the rest of the day.  Ahem.  Nope.  Sorry.  He obviously needed more work to do, so I gave him another book to read.

In the afternoon, our little friend came.  Her mom asked me to consider watching her one day a week this summer.  It would be a good way to bank up some money for art next year.  I'm thinking we will do it. 

For dinner, we are having a Shepherd's Pie concoction and salad.  Fruit is getting low, so we will probably not have any for dinner.  We'll have big salads to fill up on.

I can't stop taking pictures of this sweet creature!

Wednesday...

Another quieter day.  The kids got their work done, watched a movie in the afternoon, and then we dashed off to AWANA, only two more left! Jeff talked to our AWANA commander tonight and so I can tell it here that we are not going to do AWANA next year.  After going over our commitments, we decided that something must go.  I am going to miss the children.  It was a hard decision. Jeff is going to use his Wednesday nights to do fun boy things with Trevor, who seems to get the least of Jeff's attention.  They've written a long list of things to do.  I may publish it one of these days. 

Dinner was crust-less quiche, grapes, and roasted potatoes.

She takes an afternoon nap on the sofa each day. 

Thursday...

Need to get some bread before school and babysitting today.  Trevor hasn't been feeling his best this week.  He's probably got what Grace had for the last two weeks.  Ryan is all better, though.  My ear started hurting last night for some strange reason.  I don't have any other symptoms.  Weird.  Could be my old swimmer's ear flaring up.  I did wash my hair yesterday. (Grrr!) 

Today we finished a really quick paced, interesting book about Queen Mary, entitled, Mary, Bloody Mary by Carolyn Meyer.  I am going to try to find some more books at the library by this author.  She writes in a style that I enjoy.  She wrote other books from similar historical time periods. 

Dinner is chicken with whole wheat biscuts and home made slaw.  BUT, the oven broke during its baking, so I had to transfer it to the crock pot. Thankfully, it finished in time.  The oven will have to be serviced, I guess.  It seems as if it is as old as this house, so I wonder if there are parts for it?  Until then, I will have to be a creative cook using my grill and crock pot. 

Karate is tonight.  It's their last chance to qualify for the tournament coming up.  Ryan also hopes to get signed off on becoming a Jr. Leader.  He's been working on that all year. And wouldn't you know, Grace was the only one to qualify for the tournament, again!  She is so frustrated, because she didn't even want to go to karate this year.  I keep telling her that she'd be first place if she put some effort into it! 

And, it looks like camping is off for the weekend, again.  It's going to rain all day Saturday.  (Boo)



Friday...

Hooray for Friday! I let the kids sleep in a bit, although,we need to finish up school work today.  Trevor has several subjects to make up as he wasn't feeling well and I let it slide a day.  Grace and I need to have a math meeting.  (Pray for me!  Those usually get heated.)  Ryan needs to finish his essay.  He usually puts it off until Friday.

Other than lessons, we need to tidy the house, keep the laundry going, may go to the library, and tonight is Grace's art show at the gallery!  I cannot wait to see the lovely blue bird she drew.

I was going to make vegetable lasagna tonight.  I may have to make it in the crock pot.  I think I can do that.  It may not be as good, but it will work.  

Update:  the lasagna was awesome!  Here is the recipe.   It's just something I made up.

First, I cut up 4 zucchini and stir fried them in olive oil with 2 cloves (crushed) garlic, salt and pepper to taste. I put them into the bottom of the crock pot. Next, in the same pan that I cooked the zucchini, I put in 3 cans of organic tomato sauce, a couple more cloves of garlic, crushed, a sprinkle of basil and about 1/2 cup of olive oil. I let that simmer while I made my ricotta mixture. In a medium bowl mix together one egg, a small carton of ricotta, a sprinkle of dried parsley, 1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese, pepper to taste, and about a cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Now it's time to assemble the lasagna back in the crock pot. Take about one third of the pasta sauce and spread it over the zucchini. Next layer some no boil lasagna noodles (if you want to us regular ones, parboil them first.) Then make a layer of the cheese mixture. Next layer more sauce. Then take two or more big handfuls of fresh spinach and layer that next. More noodles. Then cheese. Then sauce. Then noodles. Sprinkle a little of mozzerella on top. You can add other veggies that you like. These are just what I had. I cooked it on high for 3 hours. My crock pot runs hot. If you want to skip making the sauce, just use a sauce you like. I think next time I will add summer squash. Hope you like it. Oh, if you want to bake it in a regular oven, that's fine too, just adjust the time. 

Saturday...

Since we aren't going camping, and it is supposed to rain all day, I am not sure what we will do except work around the house and watch Bat Man on Me TV. 
It's just going to be nice not having a lot to do this weekend!
 For dinner, I wanted to grill out, but it may rain, so we will see about that.  I could fry hamburgers on the stove top.

Have a great weekend!  

~Jenn

A bird Grace is working on. 

She's Cute

By Ryan

=^..^=      /   

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    ||       ||

Dorothy Dumpling is the cutest living cat in the whole entire world. She's so adorable, the laws of physics obey her. How else can she jump so high?

She likes to play with her feathered toys, although they will not last long at this rate. Her string toy is better, it uses fancy ribbons and a couple of bells to get a cat's attention. And it really gets her attention.

Dorothy loves catnip. If she could have all she wanted, we'd be fresh out of catnip in minutes. Hopefully our catnip plant will live to produce plenty for her.

Dorothy is a good, well mannered cat. She understands basic rules, and obeys them. For example, the first night she watched Deep Space Nine with us, she stayed off the couch until we encouraged her to join us. It is obvious that she has been part of a family, and she was not supposed to go on the couch. However, she now has free reign on all flat and remotely flat surfaces.

Whenever we see her, the first thought in our heads is always, “She's so cute!” And she is. Her little voice is so adorable we can't help but give in to her desires. She's a true queen.

And this is her theme song...

This Week At Home,2012, Week 16

Notes I write each day in order to remember each precious one!  

Best day of the week, getting the camper!

Sunday...

We awoke amazed that our new kitty slept all night at the foot of our bed.  Church was great, as usual.  Emotionally, I was exhausted, and needed some down time in the afternoon.  Jeff to the rescue!  He took Trevor back and forth to choir practice, got Ryan a hair cut, went to Costco, mowed the grass, and let me rest!  Thank you, Jeff!  

Perfect shirt for Trevor

Monday...

Today was our last homeschool gym class until the middle of September.  Hopefully, we can meet up at a local park with some of our friends from the class once this summer.  After gym, we got our weekly bread at Great Harvest.  (Yes, it's expensive, but I want to support local businesses that make real food!)  After lunch, we opened the books.   Grace had dance and I looked at old photo albums, undisturbed, while waiting for her. 

Contemplative Kitty

Tuesday...

Busy day, as usual.  We got our lessons done, had lunch, then played with our dear little friend.  I also got laundry caught up.  In the afternoon, I took Grace to art class, came back home to make dinner, and Jeff got off in time to bring her home.  Woo hoo! I also got to go to bunco night.  (Bunco or Bunko?  either way, it's a fun dice counting game.  I belong to a group that's been going for more than 10 years!)   AND the best news of the day is that tax season is officially over!!! 

Marking off the apple orchard. Math in action! 

My honey crisp! 

Wednesday...

Jeff was off today, office closed!  So, we made the trip to see Grandpa's new apple trees .  And pick up our camper, which he had so graciously stored for us this past winter.  We had a nice visit, good lunch, and conversations.  I hated to dash off, but we had to get home for AWANA.  *sigh* 

Grandpa's apple trees waiting to be planted.

Thursday...

Great weather again today.  I ended up taking Grace to see the doctor this morning, because on Tuesday her ear started hurting really bad, and she just had an ear infection the end of February.  I always wait to make sure it is worth the trip and it seems like I made the right call.  The doctor said her ear was fire engine red.  :-( Of course, that doesn't stop her from doing her school work, like a trouper.  We watched our dear little friend today, too.  Grace did stay home from karate though.   Jeff and I did not get an official date night, but it was still good having him home in daylight hours!

Another thing occurred to me. Dorothy seems to have settled into our routine today.  She joined us for school.  She loves to roll on top of colored pencils for some reason.  They must smell good to her?  She is also a very verbal cat, which is so Siamese-like.  She frequently makes a little noise that sounds like a  Star Trek's Tribble.   I kid you not!  We are really enjoying her.  God is so good to send us this sweet kitty just when we needed her most.  My heart is grieving Abbey, but I have a smile on my face thanks to Dorothy Dumplings. 

Sweet Kitty.

Friday...

Today we must finish up our lessons, because we took Wednesday off.  We have some library books due and one on hold to pick up.  Dorothy needs another toy, too.  And, I have a messy house to deal with.  How did that happen? 

More of the adorable kitty.  

Saturday...

We were going to take a day trip and possibly camp overnight, but since Grace is sick, and its going to be too cold, we will just stay home and enjoy the free day.  Free day?  Did I say that?  Here's our to do list:

• Spring clean the pop up camper
• Check and set camping supplies
• Home Depot trip for camping supplies, grill stuff
• Gardening beds made (holes drilled into kiddie pool)
• Cut grass, weed
• Grill out on Saturday

"Would you please stop taking so many pictures?" 

Have a wonderful weekend! ~Jenn

The Adjustment Period

Dorothy Dumplings, as she is called, seems quite comfy in her new home, although there are so many new sounds and people for her to adjust to.  The rescue recommends the newly adopted pet stay in one room for a whole week.  And it really does seem to calm her.  She has been out to explore a time or two each day and usually ends up walking around crying a lot.  So, in her room she goes and spends a lot of quality time with the kids one on one. I am hoping she will settle in sooner than later, but I am mindful that she has been through a lot in her young life.  Despite not having the best start in life, I can see that she is a good kitty, very affectionate and well mannered.  Makes me think she spent a good deal of time with kind humans at one point in her life.  Perhaps she is a door-dasher and ran away, lured by the excitement and glamor of a life of chasing birds?  It's hard to say what her story is.  One thing is for certain, she enjoys people.  I like that.