Spring Break Has Begun

Hey All,

Today was the last day of school for the next 10 days. The kids are excited! This means sleeping in... hanging out with friends... and no homework. But this time of year is also a reality check it means when they go back to school they only have 7 weeks of school left before summer break begins. As fast as time has been speeding by those 7 weeks will be over with before I even know it.

I went and picked up the little munchkin at school today so we could go to the library. We ended up staying there for 2 hours. We ran into one of his classmates from last year and visited awhile. Then as we were about to leave and another one of his classmates from last year came in so we visited with them. They are from Hong Kong and while we were talking I told them about Colin joining scouts and how he had one activity he could do about talking to someone from a different country. They couldn't wait to help out and we are meeting next week at the library for the interview of sorts. When we finally left he had checked out 21 books!!!

Pirates... Facts, Things To Make, Activities... by Rachel Wright
This book is too hard for him to read but he spent the evening going through it and made a hat, a map, and a sword out of it.

Magic with Cards... by Peter Eldin

Pterodactyl... by Daniel Nunn

Animal Show and Tell: Animals Around The House... by Elisabeth de Lambilly

Learning About The Earth: Rain Forests... by Colleen Sexton

Polar Plants... by Catherine A. Welch

Our Earth... by Anne Rockwell

Gorillas and Their Infants... by Margaret Hall

Learning About The Earth: Wetlands... by Hollie Endres

Animals And Their Babies: Cats and Kittens... by Anita Ganeri

Tell Me, Tree All About Trees For Kids... by Gail Gibbons

Nifty Thrifty Music Crafts... by Felicia Lowenstein Niven

Math Riddles... by Harriet Ziefert

Dino Riddles... by Katy Hall and Lisa Eisenberg

Bug Jokes... by Jacqueline Horsfall

Kitty Riddles... by Katy Hall and Lisa Eisenberg
Colin had the kitty riddle book and I had the bug jokes and had a lot of laughs asking each other questions. It's going to be a fun week.

These next five books are all from Beatrix Potter. This has been their author of the week and he has enjoyed these books and wanted to look for them. I think he would have brought all of them home today if I hadn't said we can get some next week you know.

The Tale Of Peter Rabbit

The Tale Of Mr. Tod

The Tale Of Tom Kitten

The Story Of Miss Moppet

The Story Of A Fierce Bad Rabbit

These ought to keep us busy during spring break. We have magic tricks, riddles and jokes, pirate and music crafts, and then lots of interesting books to read. If you haven't guessed my little one is mainly a non-fiction kid. Don't get me wrong he has an imagination that gets way out of control but that is everything he just makes up when it comes to reading he likes to read non-fiction for some reason. It all started when he was 4 and became interested in dinosaurs.

Jene` has already started spring break in full swing with a trip to the mall this evening. Nick is home for a long weekend so they are spending the day together tomorrow. I know they have to go by the tux place and get that ordered for prom.

Dale has been grounded for the past 2 weeks. He brought home his progress report and in one class he had 4 homework assignments he just didn't do and in another class he had a "D". He knew he was going to get grounded and it shouldn't have surprised him. He has asked if he can go to a friend's house while on break and I told him I would think about it. IF I decide that he could that he couldn't have any sleepovers and he would only be able to stay for 2 hours. He has agreed to those terms and I will make my decision tomorrow.

The Little Ones will be here Monday night and stay until probably Thursday. Ahhhh the teens will just LOVE that. I know Colin will be in heaven with them here. Hopefully it will be nice and we can get to the park this time. Speaking of the Little Ones one just had a birthday...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR BRENDON
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

I can't believe he is 5 already! Seems like yesterday that I got a call while in Savannah saying mom come home now. And to think he will be starting kindergarten in the fall.

It's late and I better get to bed but I get to sleep in! Hip Hip Hooray!!!!

Take Care :)

Tiger Cubs, Meatball Soup, Uses for Olive Oil, and Rambling

Hey All,

I went to take Colin to school this morning backed out of the driveway and hmmm...something is not right. A flat! So I was homebound today until Tony could fix it. Hopefully that stuff he put in it works. I don't have a clue where I found a nail it's just one of those mysteries.

In a group that I'm in there was a posting for uses for olive oil. I read through them and got right up and did one of them immediately. All the bedroom doors had a case of the squeakies and now they are cured.

Nutritionists will continue to tout olive oil for its high content of healthful, monounsaturated fats, like oleic acid, and polyphenols. The fruit oil practically propelled the entire Western world in antiquity, and is mentioned in nearly every sacred text this side of the Tigris and Euphrates. As a cooking fat, it’s high up on the heart-smart list…which works out, ‘cause it tastes darn good.

(As tip, Consumer Reports has rated Goya brand extra virgin olive oil [from Spain] as the best general purpose olive oil, and as their best buy. I whole-healthy- heartedly concur.)

Olive oil also has plenty of uses around your home, outside of the sauté pan. There’s no need to waste your expensive Greek or Spanish Extra Virgin for these tasks, just grab a bottle of inexpensive, domestic olive oil for around-the-house use. You can cut down on excess oil by investing in a refillable spray can, such as the Misto.

1. Shave. Olive oil can provide a safe and natural lubricant for a close shave. Rub in an extra teaspoon after washing your body or face once finished.

2. Wood Furniture Polish. Wipe with a teaspoon of olive oil and a soft rag. Add a bit of vinegar of citrus juice to bulk up the cleaning power, and add a fresh scent.

3. Fingernails. Use a bit of olive oil to moisturize cuticles, or mix oil and water and soak your hands before a manicure.

4. Lubricate Measuring Cups and Spoons. Rub or spray olive oil on your measuring tools for easy clean-up of sticky substances like honey, grain mustards, and sugar syrups.

5. Control hair frizz. Comb a bit of olive oil through dry hair to tame the frizz and flyaways on humid days or in the winter.

6. Free a stuck zipper. Use a cotton swab to apply olive oil to the teeth of a zipper, then gently ease the tab down.

7. Care for your kitty. Add a teaspoon of olive oil to your cat’s food to help prevent hairballs, and provide a shiny coat.

8. DIY Lip balm. Mix olive oil and melted beeswax in a 1:1 ratio, with an essential oil for fragrance, and say goodbye to dry and chapped lips.

9. Stop Snoring. Take a sip of olive oil before heading to bed. It might lubricate your throat muscles, and stop yourself, or your partner, from snoring.

10. Shine stainless steel and brass. Rub a bit of olive oil on a clean rag to prevent streaks, corrosion, and tarnish.

11. Exfoliate your face and hands. Rub your skin with olive oil, then scrub with sugar or coarse salt, and rinse.

12. As you bathe. Add a few tablespoons of olive oil to your running bath water. You’ll be amazed when you towel off.

13. Remove makeup. Dab a bit under your eyes, on your cheeks and forehead, then wipe with a damp cloth.

14. Cure an earache. Very carefully, use a cotton swab to apply olive oil to the outside ear cavity to help with earaches and excess wax.

15. Remove paint from your skin. Rub on olive oil onto messy hand and arms (or faces) and allow the oil to soak into the skin for five minutes, then rinse with soap and water.

16. Treat lice. Apply olive oil to your youngster’s hair, and leave on for at least 40 minutes. Shampoo twice, then apply a preventative.

17. Stop a throat tickle. Take a sip of olive oil to stop the itchy flicker that is making you cough.

18. Fix a squeaky door. Use a rag or cotton swab to apply olive oil to the top of a problematic hinge in your home or automobile.

19. Shoe polish. Rub down your shoes with just a spray of olive oil to maintain their shine.

20. Personal Lubricant. It works…

21. Soften your skin. Rub olive oil daily on notoriously dry areas, such as your feet or elbows, especially after a shower, shaving, or waxing.

22. Easy clean up of garden tools. Spritz some olive oil on your tools to cut down on dirt buildup. Read more here!

23. Condition leather. Rub olive oil into worn leather, such as a baseball glove, and let set for 30 minutes, then wipe away any excess.

24. As a hair tonic. Comb some olive oil through your hair for the vintage look of pomade without the build-up, or add a bit to wet hair for grungy, but clean, look.

25. Cure diaper rash. Gently wipe on olive oil to your baby’s bottom to help with the irritation of diaper rash.

While I had it out I also put some on my dry elbows. I'm going to try #11 soon.

Colin is having a blast in Tiger Cubs. He only has one part left to memorize to get his Bobcat badge. We have had fun doing a few of the activities...

Family Fun... I found a 100 piece puzzle of a tiger and we put it together. I'm glad it was only 100 pcs because it was rather challenging. It took about a half hour with all of us working on it. I've put it up so we can put it together one more time and then I think I'll see about finding some puzzle glue so I can hang it on his wall.

Learning About an Animal...We read "Getting To Know Nature's Children...Tigers". We found out many things we didn't know about them. Like they are at the top of the cat family and they are endangered. Colin also found out they eat meat and he said with a disgusting look on his face...oh no they are meat eaters! lol

Tonight we made a musical instrument... a shaker. We took an empty water bottle and he put rice in it. Then he shook it as we sang the song they learned Monday night. And he also made a tiger stick puppet to go along with the song.

Ok, not all our projects will be about tigers! lol But that is what he has wanted to do right now.

I've decided with fall fast approaching that I'm going to make a different soup each week. When I say this I mean that some may be a different variation. If the recipe comes from the Internet, cookbook, or family hand me down it will be easy to follow instructions. But if I just throw a little of this and that in like many of my recipes then they may not be that easy to follow. When I throw something together I don't measure a thing out. So with that said here is the Meatball soup I made tonight.

Meatball Soup

hamburg

Italian bread crumbs

garlic salt, onion powder, salt, and pepper (you be the judge on how much to put in)

egg

Mix all the above ingredients together. Mix well. Make into tiny balls and put into skillet to brown and then transfer to baking dish. Bake on 350 degrees for about 25 to 40 minutes. Test for doneness it depends on how big your meatballs are.

beef broth

28 oz can petite diced tomatoes

a package lipton onion soup mix

Put those 3 ingredients into a large pot and let simmer for about 40 minutes.

Then I added some frozen veggies... about 8 oz of Baby Corn & Vegetable Blend and some California Blend...mostly out of this bag I took the cauliflower. I also broke apart some frozen spinach and put a nice lump of that in.

Then added water to the top it didn't take much. I then added 3 beef bouillon cubes, I like beefy. I also cooked a little elbow macaroni and added that to the pot. Then seasoned to taste with garlic salt, onion powder, salt and pepper. Let simmer until veggies are done and serve. We had Italian bread with it.

*****Note***** With the frozen Baby Corn Blend and California Blend that I didn't use I mixed those into a gallon size freezer bag and put them back into the freezer.

The kids loved it! Dale even had some as a snack tonight instead of an ice cream sandwich and Jene` is taking some for her lunch tomorrow. As typing this retracing how I made this I think I have everything in it. That's got to be it I only used what I had on hand for this one.

I've been working on my fall cleaning actually in the house this week. I love Mr. Clean Magic Erasers! I have done all the doors, the chair rail in the living room and now I'm doing the kitchen cabinets. But I think they are a bit on the expensive side and with prices for food and gas as they are I need to cut back. Food Lion as it's own brand of these for much cheaper but I'm afraid they won't work as well. I've decided to do my own little product testing to see how they compare and which I will be buying from now on. So on my next posting you can read all about it.

I cleaned out the microwave which that is done weekly but this time I moved it to clean under it and the wall behind it. OH MY GOSH you should have seen under there....... NO I take that back you didn't want to see under there. Some child or gown adult spilled something and didn't bother to move it to clean under it. It was GROSS! I also climbed up the ladder and got down all the baskets and wine decanter and glasses and washed all the dust and grime off those. Oh and cleaned off the top of the frig! For some reason the top of the frig is a collector spot. Tony had all kinds of crap up there... hammer, screwdriver, packages of latches for doors, screws, nails, super glue and then I found stuff that the older kids had hid up there from Colin and the grandkids. But it's all cleaned off once again and looks nice for now. lol I've got a good start on it and it's starting to look better.

Guess what I have noticed while doing this post??? Give up??? Quite a while back I was complaining that at times my postings were not in the same format after they were saved. I couldn't figure it out why at times they turned out the way I typed them and at times they were messed up. I've noticed if I add pictures I have to add them to start off with if I add them after I have started typing anything my post is messed up. But if they are added first then bring them into the spot I want them in while typing it turns out like it should. I will see I forgot to add these pictures first and I can tell my format is different than what I want it. I'm having a hard time with spacing on some things.

I finally finished this book I've been reading. The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen. It was a good book and I found myself wanting more of it to read when I finished it. It was just after starting it I had many distractions and had a hard time finding time to read it. I will have to look for more of her books at the library. Here's the description from the back of the book...

Present day: Julia Hamill makes a horrifying discovery on the grounds of her new home in rural Massachusetts; a skull buried in the rocky soil--human, female, and, according to the trained eye of Boston medical examiner Maura Isles, scarred with the unmistakable marks of murder long ago....

Boston, 1830: To pay for his education, medical student Norris Marshall has joined the ranks of local "resurrectionists"--those who plunder graveyards and harvest the dead for sale on the black market. Norris now finds himself the prime suspect in a series of grisly murders. Joined by a sardonic young man named Oliver Wendell Holmes, Norris sets out to prove his innocence and track down a maniacal fiend--part of the dark mystery reaching across centuries to the present-day world of Julia Hamill.

Now I just have to finish that afghan! Dale really likes it he keeps asking... is that for me. No, sorry. I know I won't have time to get his finished before Christmas but maybe for his birthday.

It's time to start thinking about the other two things I've decided to do for the fall/winter months and that's to make a different dessert once a week and a muffin once a week. Hmmm...wonder how I will do with that. Muffins shouldn't be too hard because I do make a lot of them for the kids but seems like it's always the same kind. But the dessert is another thing that will be a challenge I don't make many of those on a regular bases.

Just one more rambling before I head for bed. I think we are going to have an early winter. We have had a drastic change in temps that the kids have even been chilled by it. It's just not normal for this time of year. I will admit that the cooler weather does feel good but I'm not looking forward to it getting colder. The other day when I walked up to get the mail a squirrel ran across the road and in his mouth was the biggest acorn I have ever seen. I'm told that is one sign of a early and bad winter that the acorns are really big this year. Time will tell!

Good Nite All :)

Vickie

Oh My Gosh Where To Start...

The kids have been out of school since the 5th and the teens have been busy. Let's see now how do they say it... but mom I have a social life. Yep, that's what they say. lol They have been hanging out with friends most of the time. Colin and I have park day on Wednesday with his kindergarten classmates and on Friday we go to the library. We have become regulars at the pool.

I made Fried Cucumbers tonight and they were awesome! Oh yeah I will be making them a lot this summer. I got the recipe from Groups Recipe from Putercop .


Fried Cucumbers

Cucumber sliced in 1/8 inch thick slices (you decide how many you want for how many people).
butter
salt and pepper
flour

Slice cucumber to 1/8 inch thick rounds, or, if you feel fancy on the bias (angle)
roll in flour.

Heat butter in a skillet till bubbly. Lay cukes in butter and fry till light brown
add salt and pepper to taste.

***for a variation fry in bacon fat (you've been saving from some of my other recipes) or extra virgin olive oil

*** Also goes great with sour cream or sour cream and dill also on top when served with fish


My cousin got her baby chicks in and they are so adorable! You can check them out here. And she gave me a great idea to brainstorm over! They are turning a shed into a chicken coop and I have a shed. lol But I will have to wait until the winter months to start cleaning all the junk out of it because it's filled with the previous owners stuff he never took. It's filled from top to bottom with foot massagers. None of them are in boxes so I'm thinking he fixed them...I don't know. But anyhow I can only imagine all the snakes and critters in there right now and know that it's going to have to be a winter job to clean it out. So if you are wondering yes we are seriously thinking about getting chickens. I've asked for the past 3 years for a goat and I still get a no on that. Hmmm...what would he say if I asked for a pig? Maybe then I would get my goat. lol Anyhow while I wait on my cuz and her hubby to finish up their chicken coop so I can see pictures of what needs to be done on the inside I'm going to start looking at the other things we will need to have before next spring. Next spring that seems so far off!

I had started making granny squares to make Kaylee an afghan but my daughter said no mom not those colors do something with pink. I started one doing the basic granny square and have it almost finished. I still need to finish the vest and the other projects that have been abandon. I wish I would have learned how to crochet a long time ago because I love it. I remember I did try once upon a time many years ago when I was expecting my first child and lets just say that it was suppose to be a baby blanket and by the time I was finished with it you could use it on a twin size bed. I didn't have a clue as to what I was doing. lol Nothing was even on it that poor thing was so out of shape and I guess that just discouraged me until now.

The little ones will be here tomorrow afternoon and stay until Monday afternoon. Colin is so excited! Dale and Jene` well let's just say they are making plans for the whole weekend. Tomorrow morning I need to get into the closet and pull out all the baby toys and make sure all the magnetix and things with small pieces are taken care of. We haven't had any rain in quite some time and of course they are calling for it all weekend. If the weather holds out I will be taking them to the park and maybe the pool. We will have a good time they haven't been here in over a month.

Last week I read Died in the Wool by Rett MacPherson and this week I'm reading Killing Cousins by Rett MacPherson. I've gotten hooked on her books they are a lot like Mary Higgins Clark's. Colin thought he would let his brain go to mush but I informed him that wasn't going to happen. It was so funny he told me the day before school was out... oh mommy I can't wait only one more day and I can let my brain turn to mush it's okay because I'm not smart. I informed him he was smart and that he wouldn't be letting his brain turn to mush he still had to practice reading and writing over the summer. The next day after school was over with his class met at the ice cream shop for a party and I was talking to his teacher and told her what he had said she is always amused over what Colin comes up with. She told him that she would be coming to some of the planned summer activities that we have set for his class and if he let his brain turn to mush he would have to deal with her. His eyes got so big and he said I was just joking.

I better get off here and get to bed the little ones will be here before I know it. I have a lot of pictures to get off my camera and will get them on here soon.

Take Care

Catching Up!

Wow there is so much to catch up on. I've been slack on my blog! To start things off I've completed 8 projects, I think that makes 13 for the year so far. OH I need to get busy! Three crocheted hats to go along with the scarves I had already made. A potholder and a dishcloth. A bench that I redid and now I have another one to do. And the final two things for the color of the month a green afghan, nothing fancy I started it before I could read a pattern and a green drawstring bag.

A work in progress. I started this last week in crochet class. I can't wait until tomorrow to see how much everyone else has done.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Mawmaw and Colin


Nick came over and wrote... Jene` will you go 2 the prom with me around her car windows. Was there any doubt?


Our Little Angels... Jene`, Dale , and Colin. And Our Little GrandAngels... Brendon & Kaylee.


Jene` with her little cousins after she finished performing in Highschool Musical. I've never seen so many little kids go crazy over a play before. They loved it!


Dale and Colin coloring Easter eggs. You are never too old to color Easter eggs!

Now I'm caught up to the present and have two home sick with the stomach virus. Colin had it last Thursday and Dale started with it last night and Jene` came home early from school with it today. I hope they get over it as quickly as Colin did!

I couldn't help myself the other day and stopped at the library and picked up another book by Rett MacPherson... Thicker Than Water. So far so good I'll update you on it when I finish.

Don't forget to add your Strawberry Recipes to your blog and leave a comment on the post below. I would love to see a lot of them posted so I can try them out soon!

I better get BUSY!

Finished Reading!

In Sheep's Clothing by Rett Macpherson

I give this book a Thumbs Up! Her writing is similar to Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark.

Mystery...Suspense. ..Humor.. .Tear Jerker... all wrapped up into one novel.

Here is the intro for the book just incase you may want to know. lol

When genealogist Torie O'Shea gets an invitation from her favorite aunt, Sissy, to come and spend some time with her in Minnesota, she jumped at the chance. She piles her husband and her father-in-law into the car, leaving her two daughters in the care of her mother back home in Missouri, and hits the road, looking forward to some relaxation and some family bonding. Once they arrive, Torie finds out that her aunt's invitation was not so innocent: Sissy has uncovered a 150-year-old diary in the attic of her home and is dying to find out who wrote it and where it came from.

Certain she won't be able to find anything, Torie reluctantly dives in. She is immediately riveted by the author's story: a young Swedish women living with her family in 1850's rural Minnesota who had fallen in love with a man she couldn't have. When the diary ends abruptly with hints of brutal violence, Torie becomes enmeshed in a deadly mystery passed down through generations- --and still festering today.

Anyone read any of her books? I can't wait to go back to the library and pick up another one.

Finished Reading

Critical Judgement by Michael Palmer. It was so good that I went to the library and checked out another book written by him Miracle Cure. If you like thrillers you will like Critical Judgement. Thank You Kathie for sending this in the book swap I really enjoyed it.

Colin has reading homework each night and he is getting so he can sound out words. We keep a reading log that is turned in at the end of each month and this month we also have to keep track of minutes for the Book It Program. His teacher has set the goal of 100 minutes for the month and if you reach your limit you get a reading award certificate and then you can take it to Pizza Hut and get a one-topping personal pan pizza. I just tallied up the first week and we already have 72 minutes. Are we going to slow down once we reach our goal? NO!

I wish Dale and Jene` would get back into the habit of reading. They used to read all the time then they became teenagers.

What I'm Reading...

Snagged...A Regan Reilly Mystery by Carol Higgins Clark. This time Regan is in Miami for her friend's wedding. Someone has accepted to kill her friend's uncle twice and she is out to find out who.

Popped

I'm in the middle of reading Popped by Carol Higgins Clark. It's a Regan Reilly Mystery. I started out reading the books which she wrote with her mother Mary Higgins Clark. I'm a huge fan of hers. So I have gone backwards on reading them but it's no problem they are mysteries and all are good.

This starts off with Regan going to Las Vegas to help out an old school friend who is making a pilot for a reality TV show. There have been some mishaps and feels someone is out to sabotage his show.

Jene` is reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix which she really likes. And she must she is already on page 679.