Prairie Mother

My New Curtains that Aren't Curtains.

2012-01-28T02:00:00.000-06:00

I really don't like curtains and I LOATH Venetian blinds.

What's the point in having windows in your house if you are just going to cover up the sunshine? I love sunshine!

In the past, most of our houses have been in the country and privacy was never an issue. (Past posts of my nude kids proves that!)

But now we live on the main street of town and it's kind of nice to have a little privacy. Our dining room is small and dark and situated at the corner of two streets. When we moved in there were paper curtains up that I liked but they finally got stained and torn and I had to take them down.

But I didn't want to replace them with dark curtains. I wanted something to provide a little privacy but still let in the light.

I saw this post (Frank Lloyd Wright inspired) and BINGO! This was what I was going to do!

I only bought enough supplies for two windows to begin with, to see if I really liked it. I think I only spent maybe $12 on everything. It was such a hit with the family that we're going to get enough for 6 more windows!

All we did was cut out circles from tissue paper and place them between two sheets of clear contact paper and then hang them by metal rings off a curtain rod. I also think this would be an awesome way to customize windows for kid's birthday parties, seasons, or holidays.

I do have to work on getting rid of the air bubbles though. I'm so excited about this, it really brightens up our little dining room.

Foody Friday - Healthier Cheesecake

2012-01-27T02:00:00.000-06:00

I am a glutton for free e-books on my Kindle. It's not uncommon for me to download a book, that I'd barely look at in a bookstore, just because it's free. Such was the case with The Perfect Ten Diet. I thought it sounded interesting because the diet focuses on 10 hormones that need to be balanced to lose weight. I started reading not expecting that I'd finish it but it was a very interesting read and the author/doctor put explained difficult scientific concepts in understandable ways. I admit I would find it VERY hard to follow this diet to the letter; no sugar or sweeteners, no processed foods, NO CAFFEINE,limited bread!! But also adding more healthy fats to your diet; eggs, olive oil, fish, chicken, CREAM, real BUTTER!! I can do butter! After reading the book I decided to try and follow some of the recommendations. Can't be too healthy right?

The book even includes healthier recipes at the end and imagine my surprise when cheesecake was on this diet! Aw, what the heck. I figured I'd make it, it would be lousy and I'd throw it out. But at least I'd try.

Oh. my. goodness. It was great! It took DR and I about a week but we finally ate the whole thing. And boy, did it fill me up! It isn't as sweet as a regular cheesecake but it was VERY satisfying.

New York Style Cheesecake

1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

1 cup whole wheat cracker crumbs

1/2 cup agave (I used honey, not on the diet but darn natural in my book)

40 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup heavy cream

3 large eggs

1 cup sour cream

1 t. vanilla

1/4 cup all purpose whole wheat flour

Grease the sides of a springform pan. In a large bowl, combine the butter and cracker crumbs. Press into the bottom of the pan, and place the pan in the freezer for 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, beat the agave and cream cheese for 4 minutes. Blend, with electric blender, in the heavy cream. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each egg is added. Mix in the sour cream, vanilla, whole wheat flour until smooth. Pour the filling over the crust. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Turn off the oven and let the cake cool in the oven for 5 hours (I only cooled it for 4 hours). Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.

I enjoyed eating the cheesecake plain but DR had to doctor it up! Pretty though! If you make this I'd love to know what you thought of it.

Week 4 - Lines

2012-01-26T02:00:00.000-06:00

Week 4 - Lines

This week has been super busy so I'll make this a short post.

ISO 200, 1/125sec., f13

My garage with power lines overhead and shadows of my clothesline. I loved all the different directions I found in this one.

ISO 800, 1/160sec., f11

Timbers in my yard with shadows of our fence.

And just for fun, some crazy editing of the last shot. Invert and extra contrast.

Week 5 - Steel.

Hmm, so what's made of steel? Does Superman count?

Me, My Shoes and My Major Pains in the....

2012-01-24T02:00:00.000-06:00

Feet! Pains in the feet...what were you thinking?

You know the stereotype about women? That we just love to shop, especially for shoes? That's not me. And never has been. Shopping for shoes or clothes has never been enjoyable to me. I just want to get what I need and get out. Imagine my despair when I had to throw out all my shoes and replace them. Oh no!!!

Let me explain..I've suffered from foot pain for at least ten years. It had been on and off and, up until a year and a half ago, I could always do something to ease the pain. Put arch supports in my shoes, stop running for a while or just buy a new pair of shoes. I had to completely give up wearing flip flops about 5 years ago because they hurt my feet so badly. But about a year and half ago I was having serious and consistent foot pain for months that wouldn't go away no matter what I did. Many days I was on the verge of tears because the pain was so bad. I was to the point where I was running on my treadmill barefoot and I had a pair of flimsy canvas shoes I wore all the time because that was the closest to being barefoot. I didn't own one pair of shoes that didn't hurt and going barefoot was the only thing that could ease the pain.

I finally went to a podiatrist who measured my feet and, lo and behold, I was wearing the wrong size shoes. I had been wearing size 9 since high school and the doctor said I needed a 8 1/2 wide shoe AND I had high rigid arches. I was wearing shoes that were too small, squeezing my feet and didn't have enough support.

Great (insert sarcasm). I had to buy new shoes.

I've went through a lot of shoes in the past year. Some worked (I bought men's cowboy boots because they are wider than women's and they feel great), some failed miserably (I still have to put arch supports in most of my shoes). But I just have to share the VERY BEST SHOES OF ALL TIME!!!

Okabashi Shoes.

4 Reasons this company is awesome!

1. Made in the USA

2. These shoes are completely recyclable.

When your shoes wear out, send them back to Okabashi and they'll make them into a new pair.

3. My feet have NEVER hurt in Okabashi shoes. (They're endorsed by the American Chiropractic Society.)

4. VERY affordable. Prices range from $13 - $20 dollars a pair.

I just received two new pairs last week. These are Clogs.

The Okabashi shoes are rubber like, not soft and foamy like Crocs but sturdier.

Each pair of Okabashi shoes have a built in arch support. I've been wearing these brown ones all over the house and I've forgotten that I'm even wearing them. They are that comfortable.

Please ignore my ugly toes.

I also got a new pair of Classic Flip Flops this week!

Last summer I wore a green pair of Okabashi flip flops everyday. No joke. I wore them to church, in the garden, EVERY WHERE! They felt so very good on my feet. I hadn't been able to wear flip flops for 5 years! Okabashi has been a blessing for my feet.

My green ones aren't worn out either; they really do last.

I just wanted a second pair for the summer. (Guilty pleasure)

My favorite part of these Okabashi shoes are the little bumps. It's like getting a foot massage all day long! That's my idea of heaven right there.

GREAT SHOE #2 -Vibram

I run a lot; 20+ miles a week. I did end up getting new running shoes after I remeasured my feet but I enjoyed running barefoot so much that I kept doing it a few days a week on my treadmill for the past year. Although running barefoot feels good, with my high arches I can't do it everyday or my feet start really hurting again. I have found that my feet feel much stronger than they did a year ago.

DR bought me a pair of Vibram FiveFinger shoes for Christmas!

I admit, I over did in these shoes the first week I had them and ran in them 4 days in a row and my feet hurt for a week. I'm smarter now; a couple days on and a couple days off.

Basically the philosophy is that our bodies were never made to shoes and the shoes we do wear make the muscles in our feet and legs weak and throws off our alignment. Naturally, our feet are designed to work best barefoot but after decades of wearing shoes (on concrete, not natural), it takes time to adjust to wearing or running in these shoes on a daily basis.

So even though my feet should be able to go barefoot, I've spent too much time in other shoes and I don't have the strength in my arches (yet) to wear these shoes everyday.

Despite not being able to wear them everyday I do love these shoes. They are comfortable to run in and much warmer than I anticipated. I don't wear socks with them though you can buy toe socks off the Vibram website. There's plenty of traction so I don't have to worry about slipping in them. The bottom of these shoes are strong enough too that I don't have to worry about anything poking into my feet as I run. It's kind of difficult getting used to putting them on, I'm still working on getting the right toes in the right holes! And when you run in these you almost have to relearn your stride. I don't take as long of steps and my feet land more on the ball of my feet rather than the heel. I have found myself lately running at a faster pace in these shoes than traditional running shoes and that's encouraging! Vibram's aren't cheap though; $100+ per pair. However if they strengthen my feet I think the price is worth it.

My feet problems are probably totally different than yours but if you are looking for a new pair of shoes I definitely recommend that you check out Okabashi and Vibram FiveFingers! That may have something just for you.

Marker Monday - Microwave Mystery

2012-01-23T02:00:00.000-06:00

And just WHAT is so interesting in the microwave boys?

It's not popcorn. It's not hot dogs.

No, they aren't having a Peeps war.

I don't think I've ever seen Yip smile this much over food.

It must be more exciting than merely something to eat.

Cool!!! .... What is it??

An Ivory Soap Explosion of course!

(one bar of soap from microwave. Only do a 1/4 at a time!)

All you need is a bar of Ivory soap, I don't think any other brand will work, and a microwave. Cut the soap in fourths and one piece at a time put in the microwave, watch it grow and take it out when it's done. Ours took about 30 seconds but it may take longer depending on your microwave. It won't be too hot to touch and the boys enjoyed playing with it right away because it felt like foam. After it cooled though and you squeezed it then it turned to powder.

So, what do you do with it now?

I used a whole bar of soap to make homemade laundry detergent.

(4 cups of bar soap grated or microwaved in this case, 2 cups of Borax and 2 cups of washing soda. Mix and use 1- 1/2 T per load of laundry.)

We also made Clean Mud!

You need one bar of Ivory soap foamed in the microwave, a few sheets of toilet paper and 1/2 cup of water.

After the soap has cooled mix the toilet paper and water with the soap and it will dissolve into the consistency of mud. You may need to add a bit more toilet paper to thicken it up.

What a ball this was! And it felt like mud. I was getting kind of worried because there were bits of this mixture all over the carpet but after it tried it vaccumed up super easy. It looks like a mess, but it's only soap after all and we just tossed all the toys in at bathtime. Double duty! Use the soap on the toys to clean your kids. I thought it might chunk up on the tablecloth too but I threw it in the washer, but didn't add detergent, and it came out clean as a whistle!

Clean Mud...a pretty fun, and clean, activity for a cold winter day.

Sunday Devotions - Rest vs. Work

2012-01-22T02:00:00.000-06:00

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. Mark 6:30-32

It's 8:30 on a Saturday night and I'm finally sitting down to write my Sunday Devotional. Whew!

What a day it's been! The boys had a friend sleep over last night so there was an extra rugrat running around this morning. Later in the morning I loaded the car with kids to buy materials for 4-H projects. Then after coming home, fixing lunch and getting Yahoo down for a nap the boys and I worked on their projects. After Yahoo's nap we had a fine time making animal cheese crackers for a church dinner this evening and then we played with some Clean Mud (check tomorrow's post for the recipe!). I timed it just right that I could run on the treadmill while the kids watched a movie and I'd heat up leftovers for dinner as soon as I was done running. But as soon as I got off the treadmill DR came home from working all day transferring grain to say he had to run to town and, "Why don't we go out to eat at Applebees?" After a quick shower, no makeup, and getting the kids hustled into the car, we were off! Dinner was great, then a fly by the store DR needed to get to, and we were home right at bedtime. Everyone was hustled through the toothbrush, pajama routine and were down for the count. Even DR's sleeping right now.

I felt like I haven't had a chance to sit all day. But even as I'm sitting here looking around the living room my mind is building a To Do List; pick up toys, work on painting, fold laundry, the list goes on and on. But I have no energy to keep on working tonight. If I did I would be worthless tomorrow.

I think the apostles probably had some problems with getting enough rest too. Jesus had sent them off to do God's work and they had returned, probably very excited, about what they'd taught and done! Who wants to rest when the power of God is with them to do great things? But Jesus knew that rest was important to his disciples, despite their great excitement and energy. If they didn't rest and recharge the power of God wouldn't be able to work within them in the future. They would just burn out.

The same is true for all of us. Life is so much go, go, go. Where's the rest? If we don't carve out time for ourselves no one else will. No one can go indefinitely without recharging their batteries, physically and mentally, or burn out is bound to occur. I think for mothers of young kids it is especially hard to find time to rest and pray. We are on the go from sunup to sundown and many times up in the middle of the night too caring for our little ones.

It's hard to carve out that time but perhaps it doesn't have to be a huge chunk of time all at once. Can you try five minutes of sitting down doing nothing? Ten minutes? There are days I feel lucky to get three minutes of time to just sit before I'm called on by one kid or another. But the intention is there.

Dear God, Thank You for reminding me today that rest is so very important. Rest for my body and my mind. Resting is the only way I can prepare myself to do Your work. Help me find rest today Lord that I may do Your work tomorrow. Amen.

I wish...for a TOY library!

2012-01-21T02:00:00.000-06:00

Over the past year I've been lucky enough to help our local Kansas Parents as Teacher (KPATA) coordinator, Melissa, plan out play dates in our town. Kids ranging from 0-5 come into her PAT (Parents as Teachers) room in an old high school building and do all kinds of stuff! We play games, read stories, sing songs, do art projects usually following a different theme every month but Melissa is awesome and has so much energy! She does different things every month! We are just gearing up for another year since we haven't met since November.

While Melissa has tons of energy, her position is time consuming She is always traveling for many play groups in our area and has a couple rooms in this old school building to store things but has never had boxes or shelves to put them on. It's kind of become a dumping off spot for her before she takes off to the next town and the next group of kids.

So this last week she and I have been digging through two rooms worth of stuff; cleaning, organizing, and throwing away. Toys, games, puzzles, blocks, art supplies, Little Tikes toys (that I drool over), manipulatives, books...all this stuff that ranges in age appropriateness from birth to kindergarten.

She has so. much. stuff.

As we've been cleaning and going through stuff she was kind enough to let me borrow anything I wanted to! This is only a few of the things I've brought home. It's been great because we've gotten new toys that all my kids are interested in (and it's gotten them away from the tv) and I haven't had to shell out a bunch of money for new toys and games. Plus Melissa has some great DURABLE toys and games you can't find at the local WalMart. I HATE spending money on a toy or game that breaks easily or doesn't work. (Like Elefun. Hate that game. It doesn't work. Don't buy it!)

Wasn't Christmas only a month ago? How many of your kids aren't playing with their presents anymore. It's true with some of my kids' toys. I've heard the advice to rotate toys around so your kids won't get tired of them. My problem is I don't have the time/space to do that or if I do when I bring them around my kids have out grown certain toys in a short amount of time and don't want them anymore.

Wouldn't it be awesome to have a TOY library? (Not Goodwill where everything is broken!) A place where any parent or child can go into and check out a game or toy and bring it home for a couple weeks before they have to return it! Just like a library but with toys/games instead of books.

How many problems would that solve? Parents wouldn't have to spend money buying new toys that their kids may or may not like. A toy library would be giving low income families the opportunity to enjoy high quality toys and games! Toys could be rotated as your kids outgrow them, especially for toddlers! Just like recommending a great book to a friend, parents could recommend great toys to other parents.

I'm not sure if or how someone could even get a Toy Library started. I don't live in one location long enough to start one myself or I'd figure it out.

That's what I wish for though, a toy library. That would be awesome.

Foody Friday - Cheesy Crackers just like Goldfish!

2012-01-20T02:00:00.000-06:00

Last week I met with my ladies group and we were having a lesson on cheese and a cheese tasting. There was goat cheese, brie, hivarti, muenster...so many to try! One of the ladies made these wonderful cheese sticks that I thought tasted just like Goldfish crackers!

Cheesy Crackers

2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1/2 stick of butter

3/4 cup of flour

dash or two of chili powder

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

Process all ingredients in a food processor until worked into a ball of dough. Roll out the dough onto a lightly floured tea towel or other cotton cloth and cut into squares, about 1" or so. (Next time I'm going to use alphabet cookie cutters!) Place on lightly greased cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes in 350 degree oven.

Not all of my kids were convinced however that they were wonderful; one of them just had to veto it. Ah, two out of three isn't bad.

Week 3 - Dirty

2012-01-19T02:00:00.000-06:00

Week 3 of 52 Weeks Photo Themes

Dirty!

And I was fully anticipating taking photos of my kids amongst a giant mess of one sort or another. Imagine my surprise when this week's subject was my hubby DR instead. The weather was unusually warm this past weekend, upper 50's and low 60's, which DR took advantage of and worked up the dead organic matter and compost into our garden plot.

f5.6, 1/100sec, ISO 100

f7.1, 1/320 sec., ISO 100

I haven't a clue why but this picture should be rotated 90 degrees to the left. I tried ever trick I know to get it turned but I couldn't get it to work.

I'm really happy with these photos. It was a beautiful day although tricky with the bright sunshine and the freshly turned soil smelled fabulous. It's one of my favorite smells in the world by the way.

Next week, Line(s).
Hmm, I'll have to do some thinking and looking on that one.

Another Radial Design and Etsy(?)

2012-01-17T02:00:00.000-06:00

Here's the latest work I've finished. It isn't anything special in my mind. Not a painting but in colored pencil this time. I started this one day while subbing in a high school math class where I had absolutely nothing. to. do. I've worked on it a bit here and there for the last few weeks but had a huge chunk of time to finish it while I was subbing for a Spanish class and watching Shark Tale (in Spanish) over and over. Boring!

It's about 7 3/4" square; a decent size. Although I don't think it's too special overall, I am rather proud of the blue background. For a while the drawing was taped to an old textured cookie sheet I have and a blue pencil helped create the background.

I've been painting these small works for a while and when I'm done the artworks get put in a closet. I don't have the time (or wall space) to put up a bunch of my paintings. And really, I wouldn't want to have to look at my own artwork all day. I have a couple paintings up now and I am my own worst critic. I don't like looking at them at all.

One of my readers asked me what I do with them and if I sell them. I was rather flattered that she asked! I do have an Etsy shop but I haven't sold anything there for a long time. I'm thinking to give it a go with some of these small radial paintings; getting them matted and posted on Etsy and see what happens.

You guys have seen them. You've been around. Any suggestions on price? They are all smaller than 9" square.

I'm not looking to make a fortune off Etsy or anything. I paint these because I enjoy it; it's a problem solver for me...but I can't keep everything I ever create! I have to do something with it and I might as well sell it to someone who's actually interested in them.

Any constructive criticism or advice would be greatly appreciated!

One Last Hurrah

2012-01-16T02:00:00.000-06:00

The big old snow we had about three weeks ago has just about all melted away......except for a few piles left on street corners or in shadows.

Last week five little boys spontaneously converged on one of the last snow piles on our block. One last hurrah!

I love watching little boys play because there is some sort of unspoken order among what looks like chaos. There were toy guns, shovels, bikes, wrestling upon the pile of snow. But never one fight or disagreement.

From my untrained eye, it seemed like there were three or four things going on all at once on the snow. Girls don't play like that. Girls are much more soap opera-ish. Boys seem to be a lot more flexible in their play. I was wishing I remembered more from my college Child Psychology class. Girls and boys are so different it boggles the mind that they can survive in the same room for ten minutes.

Have you noticed though that the youngest boy who was probably 4 or 5 years old (striped shirt on the right) didn't hardly move in five pictures? I imagine he must be soaking it all in, everything those big boys (ages 6 and 7) said and did.

There was some friendly competition; racing and jumping.

Coincidentally my boys are both gone tonight (Sat.) at a sleepover at a friend's house as I write this post. My evening has been spent playing games and eating dinner with only DR and Yahoo.

My house is so quiet..unnerving really...but I'm enjoying the silence nonetheless.

This evening is making me look forward to the day they both leave for college. Just kidding..kinda...

Sunday Devotions - "What's This?"

2012-01-15T02:00:00.001-06:00

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5

I'm fortunate enough to live on the same block as my children's school and Yahoo's babysitter. This makes it very convenient for me to do some substitute teaching once or twice a week. I miss being a teacher and most of the time feel as though I'm able to impart a bit of wisdom to the students; except for when I substitute for Spanish and Trigonometry then I'm clueless. But this week I was asked a question by a child that really had me stumped.

I wear this cross necklace every day and while subbing at a preschool this week full of four and five year olds one little boy asked, "What's that?" while pointing at my necklace.

"It's Jesus' cross." I answered.

Not satisfied he asked, "But why do you wear it?" After this question I was aware that many of the little children were quietly awaiting my answer. I was getting more nervous as the seconds ticked by. This was more nerve racking than talking sex education to high school kids.

Why do I wear my cross? How do I answer the depth that question requires in a manner preschoolers will understand? I couldn't just brush this little boy's inquiry aside because this was a chance to minister to a ready and open heart, to a child I knew didn't know God or Jesus.

At that moment I felt very lacking in wisdom. I thought slowly and answered carefully, praying silently that my words had been well chosen.

"I wear this cross to remind me everyday that God loves us all so much that He sent us Jesus so we can live with Him in Heaven someday."

My answer could have been much longer and more detailed of course but hopefully the very essence of the meaning of the Cross was expressed. Wisdom doesn't always come from words in books but rather which words we choose to share with others.

Dear Heavenly Father, Grant me wisdom today. Wisdom to say the right thing, at the right time, to the right person. Amen.

Mmmm, Making Noodles!

2012-01-13T02:00:00.000-06:00

I really love homemade egg noodles. They make me smile.

Snow - 52 Week Project

2012-01-12T02:00:00.000-06:00

52 Week Project; week 2 - Snow

I did these shots early in the week because I was afraid if I didn't there wouldn't be any snow to shoot. It's been awfully warm here this last week.

f/11, 1/25 sec., ISO 1600

I've been missing the cool winter temps and have secretly been praying for another blizzard. Hey! We still need the moisture. Don't judge me.

f/8, 1/80sec., ISO 1600

These photos are okay; I don't think there is anything exciting about them.

Next week's assignment is Dirty. Shoot, I have three kids that one should be a breeze...well, at least I'll have lots of material to choose from :)

Words, words, words...which for my blank wall?

2012-01-10T02:00:00.000-06:00

The best thing about my bathroom is the huge mirror over the sink and counter. The worst thing about my bathroom is the huge space above the huge mirror. Ever since last year when I finished my Pheasant Mural in the boys bathroom, I've had in mind that I'd like to put something above the mirror in this bathroom.

But I'm not leaning towards any objects like the windmills or barns in the other bathroom, rather I'm thinking of putting up some words...some great quote.

And where do I go to look for something without knowing what I want?
Why, Pinterest of course.

And oh boy, I was filling up my board with WORDS that I just love.

Some though just aren't appropriate for my bathroom wall.

Maybe not for a mural in my bathroom but I'd love this as a T-shirt!

I can go through a whole jar of peanut butter by myself. No joke. Hmmm, maybe I could find a place in my kitchen to put these words.

Isn't this one so true? But not for my bathroom. I don't want to encourage the men in my family to stay in there ANY LONGER than they already do!

I'm learning I really like Oscar Wilde quotes and need to read more of him.

Ah, Mark Twain...so American...and so true.

This sure makes me want to embrace every morning.

You just can't help but smile after reading this one.

aahhh....

Irish blessings; You can't go wrong with those!

I wouldn't put this Oscar Wilde quote on my wall but I really, really, Really, REALLY want it as a bracelet similar to the one in the photo. I need to do some research on that one.

I still want to paint above my mirror but I'm getting overwhelmed with the wonderful words, words, WORDS I'm reading everywhere! What about you? Do you have any quotes on the walls in your home? Any suggestions?

It may be awhile before I get this project finished but hopefully I can get it done before spring.

Marker Monday - Candy Tray (made from Candy!)

2012-01-09T02:00:00.000-06:00

A friend of mine was showing her candy tray made from candy, an idea she got off Pinterest but I haven't been able to find it, and it was so easy I made one the same afternoon!

My friend used green and red peppermints and placed them in a rectangular casserole dish on parchment paper. The hodge podge above was the only hard candy we had left and I didn't have any parchment paper so I sprayed a pie pan with cooking spray.

After spraying it Yahoo and I (mostly Yahoo) arranged the candies. You want them evenly spaced and not touching. Then carefully put it in a 350 degree oven, without shifting the candies, for 8 minutes. Mine were left in a few minutes too long.

I found the yellow butterscotch candies didn't melt at the same rate as the others so while it was still warm I smooshed the yellows a bit with a bag of a spoon.

After it was cooled I popped it out wiped off the greasy residue and glued a circular piece of felt underneath.

So easy, so fun and surprisingly sturdy!

But I can do better, I'm thinking of making a bigger one for Easter with some pastel colored candies..if I can find any!

Sunday Devotions - Minimize

2012-01-08T02:00:00.000-06:00

A Prayer to God; "I've asked you for two things. Don't keep them from me before I die: Keep vanity and lies far away from me. Don't give me either poverty or riches. Feed me only the food I need, or I may feel satisfied and deny you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' or I may become poor and steal and give the name of my God a bad reputation." Proverbs 30: 7-9

It's just the first week of 2012 and you know what that means...RESOLUTIONS!

Have you made any? Eating healthier? Working out more often? Those are usually the biggies aren't they?

Usually I don't make resolutions but this year I've given some thoughts to a couple of different goals I'd like to work on. First, I'd like to paint a mural for someone else, in their home or in a church or business. Secondly, I want to minimize stuff. So far I'm off to a rocking start! I've gone through half the house (not including the kitchen, I'm saving that for last) and cleaning and purging and just getting rid of stuff. Clothes that don't fit, audio tapes (who even has a tape deck in their car anymore!) toys, books...just stuff that has come in and cluttered my life! I've already gotten rid of a couple bags full of stuff. No photos though. I resolutely refuse to throw away photos...but anything else could go on the chopping block!

It seems ironic how I spent November and December shopping and looking for stuff to give and now all I want to do is get rid of stuff. This stuff sure seems to get in the way of life, why do I think I need it all again? I have to clean it, organize it, protect it...what a bunch of stress that doesn't seem to do anyone any good!

Agur speaks in Proverbs asking for only what he needs because he may feel satisfied and deny the Lord. I am guessing Agur didn't have a STUFF issue to deal with.

I think I need to amend my 2012 resolutions. I think #3 is to find satisfaction in God and not in stuff. Are you satisfied with filling your house with stuff or does God need to step in and fill your heart instead?

Father, we are like children asking for more toys from Santa. Once we get our stuff it merely clutters our lives and takes our attention from You. Bless me this year that I may find my satisfaction in You and You alone. Amen.

Lego Boats and hoping for Glory

2012-01-07T02:00:00.000-06:00

My boys received their free Lego Club Magazine this week! Man what a hit it's been, they love getting this magazine! This month the mag featured Lego boats made by fellow Lego lovers. As soon as they saw that page my boys rushed downstairs to their pile of Legos. If other kids could get photos of their creations in the magazine why couldn't they?

They worked and worked and begged me to take pictures of their boats before they left for school.

Yip's boat full of Harry Potter figurines and weapons, ha, go figure.

Hee hee. Yap and I tried taking a picture of him while looking in the camera.
I took 6 pictures and he blinked in every one!

Yap's ship is much more like a warship which makes sense since he wants to be a soldier.

The boys are very proud of their creations and so am I. I just love it when they get so excited about making something. After posting I'm off to figure out how to submit their photos to the magazine.

Oh, and not to be left out....

...Yahoo saw that her brothers were getting pictures with their toys and insisted on a pic of her and Barbie.

Oh Barbie, when are you going to learn this isn't a nudist colony?

Eggs - 52 Week Project

2012-01-05T02:00:00.000-06:00

Last year I tried being a good photographer and doing a 365 project.

Well, that fizzled out after about 6 weeks.

But a friend of mine suggested that we do a 52 week project together, more accountability that way, with a theme every week to motivate us.

f 5.6, 1/160sec., ISO 1600

Week 1 - Egg

I only had one egg in my fridge the day I chose to shoot...but I kind of like it that way. I did a lot more editing to this photo than I normally would, mostly turning it from color to black and white and adjusting the highlights and shadows and contrast.

f 7.1. 1/60 sec., ISO 1600

I thought it would be fun to draw on a sad face to the lonely egg and Yahoo felt the need to comfort it as it sat all alone! LOL..

Next week's photo theme - Snow. Gee, I hope I still have some by then!

Guest Post by DR; The Perils of the Mom Purse!

2012-01-04T02:00:00.000-06:00

My husband DR kindly offered to write a guest post for my blog. Being the loving wife I humored his odd choice of subject..my purse. *sigh* I still love him, even after this post.

Purses! In my lifetime I have see my fair share of women's purses/assault weapons/accessories/dressers away from home. But all purses pale in comparison to the "Mom Purse"!

The requirement for a purse being designated a MOM PURSE are;
1. The purse must be carried by a mother of young children.
2. The purse has to be BIG enough to cover all occasions (i.e. makeup needs, banking needs, fallout shelter for a nuclear attack needs)
3. The purse has to be stylishly fashionable and match the person carrying it in all occasions.

A few months ago my wife, Prairie Mother, finally graduated from a normal size purse to a MOM PURSE. Let's examine this purse shall we?

1. It's black, so it goes well with anything.
2. It's BIG! Some examples of how big this purse is;
a) I can fit my head, arms and shoulders into this bag.
b) Small children can use it as a hiding place.
c) Goblins have started to move in. (Yes goblins! Since the Potter movies are done they had to find a new place to live.)

Yes, Yahoo is IN the purse!

I know a lot of you are thinking I might be kind of critical. But what other things can we compare this purse to.

1. Black holes
2. Outer Space
3....Do I really need to go on?

So, the next time you are looking for a new purse, don't think about how it looks or makes you feel. Just think, "Can I fit my makeup inside? My assault weapons? A refugee camp of goblins?"

Observations offered up by DR

Wild Bug Eating Flower Painting

2012-01-03T02:00:00.000-06:00

My newest painting. Not my favorite but I was pleasantly surprised at how it turned out. At the beginning I wasn't having good luck with it and considered pitching it and starting again but I'm glad I persevered.

I remember teaching about Australian Aborigines once and how they used lots of dots in some of their story telling paintings. I didn't intend to recall Aboriginal work but I couldn't help thinking about them the more I started adding my own dots to the painting. I still don't know why I do dots but I felt much more contented with the visual effects the more I worked on it.

I was trying to think of a title. I don't like to title artworks because part of me thinks the image should be enough and further explanations shouldn't sway the perception of the viewer. But as for blog posts I try to come up with some sort of title just as a description of what I post. I wasn't having any luck thinking of anything so I asked Yip.

Yip says it looks like a flower, a wild bug eating flower. So there you go..and if it changes your perception of what you see blame it on my son :)

The Dalton Gang Hideout

2012-01-02T02:00:00.000-06:00

The Dalton Gang Hideout in Meade, KS isn't too far from us. DR and the boys had actually visited it a couple times but this week was the first time Yahoo and I were able to visit. The Dalton Gang were three brothers who were bank/train robbers during the 1890's. Their sister Eva lived in Meade with her husband in the little white house that you see above. Eva and her husband were not too popular in the community being they were related to the Daltons and quietly left the community and years later the 95 foot tunnel leading from the house to the barn down the hill was discovered.

The tunnel was refurnished from the dirt and timber construction to its current stone walls by the WPA in the 1940's.

The barn currently acts as the museum/tunnel entrance. You enter the tunnel in the barn and exit into the white house behind the barn. The house is two stories, partially built into a hill and rather small.

This photo was all over the place at the museum, the most famous photo of the gang after the fatal Coffeyville Bank Robbery.

On October 5, 1892, the Dalton gang attempted this feat when they set out to rob the C.M. Condon & Company's Bank and the First National Bank in Coffeyville, Kansas. Since the locals were aware of what they looked like, they wore fake beards. But they were still identified by one of the townspeople.

While the gang was busy trying to hold up the banks, the people armed themselves and prepared for a gun battle. When the gang exited the banks, a shootout began. There were three townspeople shot, and Town Marshal Charles Connelly^[3] was killed when he ran into the street after hearing gunfire, returning fire before he died killing one member of the gang. Grat Dalton, Bob Dalton, Dick Broadwell and Bill Power were killed. Emmett Daltonreceived 23 gunshot wounds and survived. He was given a life sentence in the Kansas penitentiary in Lansing, Kansas, of which he served 14 years before being pardoned. (Wikipedia)

The house is furnished the way it would have been in the 1890's with many of Eva Dalton's own possessions.

Once we were done in the house (I could have stayed all day reading but the kids were quickly bored ) we headed back to the local history museum in the barn.

The most interesting attraction was the two headed calf! Very cool!

There were also stuffed rattlesnakes, golden eagle, beaver as well as an albino prairie dog and albino raccoon!

And of course the required barb wire collection. I've said before, practically every town of any size has some sort of local history museum and almost every one of them contains a barbed wire collection!

Outside is an old time town...fronts only. Every summer there are Western reenactors who have gunfights and a living history competition down in the old town. Hopefully we'll get to check it out this July.

Ha, I thought this was one of the funnier episodes of our day. Yip stood in the coffin, eyes closed for the full effect....

...and Yahoo had to do the same thing! Whatever brother does she'll do too...even if she doesn't understand it :)

I love my history!

Sunday Devotions - Withered Grasses

2012-01-01T02:00:00.000-06:00

The grass withers, the flower fades, but he word of our God will stand forever. Isaiah 40:8

Right before Christmas we were blessed with lots of beautiful snow. Over the last couple weeks the kids and I have enjoyed walking and playing in the snow. There is just something about a bright new snow that brings joy to my heart.

However over the last week our temps have been rising and the snow, all 6 inches of it, and ice have been quickly melting to reveal the brown dead grass hiding below. Where the sight of white snow brings joy, the sight of all the dead grass brings a bit of despair. It's hard to look at it and think that our landscape will ever be pretty again, whether with snow or green grass.

Sometimes we get dogged down in life the same way with the same thoughts. Days go by where we are trodden down by worries and chores, then the negatives headlines or unexpected stresses just add upon the despair that can build in our hearts until we may think we'll never be happy again or life will never be 'good' again.

But God gives us a never ending promise in his Word. Heaven awaits for us where there is no sadness, there is no pain. Although today we may be filled with despair, by believing in the love of God we are reminded that we won't always be here on Earth, that is full of despair. Thank goodness!

Lord, I sometimes feel as dry as mown grass. Still, your Word sustains me. Your promises give me courage and hope. Draw me deeply into Your Word. Teach me to love. Amen (God's Promises to a Woman's Heart)

Vacation is almost over :(

2011-12-31T02:00:00.000-06:00

DR commented just the other day that I must be happy that Christmas vacation is almost over since the boys go back to school on Tuesday and I'll get back to my own schedule and getting things done around the house I've neglected. I admit, during the last two weeks the house has been louder and messier. I've had a tougher time getting stuff like laundry or dishes done without being interrupted or being any way organized (not that that's such a difference than normal though). But really, I am not looking forward to the boys going back to school because I have really enjoyed this extra time I've gotten to spend with all my kids.

We've tied a blanket for Project Linus...

...built forts...

...constructed gingerbread houses...

....played in the snow (a lot!)....

...baked Santa bread and....

....used the same recipe to make Snowman bread. (Yeah, I'm not sure what that thing on the right is either but Yap enjoyed eating his creation.)

Yeah, the house has been loud and busy and there's been nights I'm just too dang tired to move but I've just really, really enjoyed my kids this Christmas vacation. They surprise me more and more everyday with what they think and do and say. Watching my children grow and learn and explore and create has been one of the very greatest gifts that I've ever received in this life.

I remember the time before I got married thinking that I may never get married or have kids...then BAM, husband and twins before I knew it a daughter...what a handful she's become. My kids have gotten so big so fast. Yeah, I should probably clean my house or do laundry but I'd much rather spend time with my kids. They sure won't be this little forever; in the blink of an eye they are almost as tall as me. Time goes by so quickly the older I get...there will be time enough to clean my house.

The older my boys get the more they talk about their memories. They don't talk about how well I folded laundry or cleaned the house. They remember the walks we took to the old barn or splashing in the flooded ditches of Illinois. They remind me of the time they spent with their cousins at a Pirate Party or rope making. A dirty house isn't that big of a deal when the mess is just a part of making memories.

Fort Friday

2011-12-30T02:00:00.001-06:00

Lately I've been surfing the blog, All for the Boys. As it says on their blog, " - a space for the boys in your life! We've often found that there is so much inspiration for girls on the web - so much to sew, craft, and create for girls. It is harder to come up with (and find) things that we not only like as parents but that our boys will like as well. No ruffles and lace here! We hope you'll be inspired to create, purchase, and play with your boys just as we are!"

Every Friday on All for the Boys it is Fort Friday where people share fort ideas to build. Some of them are as simple as a cardboard box with Christmas lights while others get quite elaborate! The boys and I enjoy surfing the photos wishing we had the skills, and space, to build some of the wonderful ideas we see, like the huge igloo!

Being as we've had time on our hands this Christmas vacation the boys decided to build their own fort from their bunkbed.

Yip, who sleeps on the bottom thought the red and green paint clothes would give him much needed privacy! And their blacksmithed hooks hold the curtains back.

Yap, my wanna be soldier, received a camoflauge blind thing for Christmas which we attached to hooks in the ceiling. It's pretty cozy up there!

Gotta say, I'm a bit jealous. This looks like a fun place to play..and sleep!

The Linus Project

2011-12-29T02:00:00.001-06:00

Recently I read about Project Linus in my Guideposts magazine.

As Charles Schulz’s Linus character from the PEANUTS® comic strip was comforted by his blanket, Project Linus strives to do the same and more for children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need. The blankets our nearly 400 chapter coordinators collect from thousands of “blanketeers” (volunteers) across the United States and then distributed to these children provide love, a sense of security, warmth, and comfort. (Project Linus website)

DR and I try to include our kids helping other people and making a blanket for another child is a great way to really get the boys involved for someone else. Sometimes writing a check is so easy, but important, that we forget our boys don't really see us helping others.

We went to Wal-Mart and Yap chose the bright circle designs and Yip chose the green backing and we got to knotting. I didn't realize how tough tying fleece knots could be and I ended up cutting the fringe longer than I had planned to.

The finished blanket was about 51"x51", kind of small but it will work for a small child.

Next time we'll do a much longer blanket.

My kids love their fleece blankets and this was just about the perfect project. It was easy for the boys to do the work but didn't take so long they grew bored. I really like the idea of Project Linus and we're planning on picking out more fabric the very next time we are in town.

Christmas Morning

2011-12-28T02:00:00.000-06:00

We had a pretty good Christmas morning in the Prairie Mother household.

Yip received a punching bag from Santa. Good! Maybe he'll work off all that excess energy!!

Everyone had to take turns trying it out.

And what Christmas morning is complete without Legos?

Yep, just what I needed...more tiny pieces to "accidentally" vacuum up!

Oh boy, the first Barbie!

Yahoo LOVES it!

See those clothes Barbie is wearing? She wore those clothes exactly 5.2 seconds after this photo was taken. She's been naked ever since. Yahoo likes Barbie that way. Oh boy.

Yahoo's first doll house; she just loves how she can walk around all sides to play with it. I love how durable it and all the furniture is!

Yap my little soldier got the army he was wishing for. They've been dispatched on missions all through the house.

DR and I had good Christmas mornings too. The best part of course was just watching our kids and enjoying their toys with them.

Although I have to say next year I'm getting up early and putting on makeup if DR is going to take pictures like THIS of me every year!

Hope you all had a very merry Christmas!

The Bacon Battle

2011-12-27T13:11:00.003-06:00

We love bacon. We plow through bacon. We usually eat a pound of bacon every Sunday morning.

As much as we love bacon, the Bacon Battle rages every Sunday morning and Christmas morning was no exception....

......because DR doesn't know how to cook it the right way!!

It's gotten so bad that I have to cook my bacon separate from DR's.

Mine is on the left, brown and crispy...utterly perfect.

DR's is on the right, pale and practically raw....what a disgrace!

Normally this wouldn't be an issue but DR has brainwashed our children into thinking "bendy" bacon is the proper way to cook such a wonderful delicacy.

Curses! How am I to get them back on the side of good and noble and CRISP bacon?

*sigh*

Bacon. It's become one of the great battles of my life!

(So, how do you cook bacon? The right way I hope!)

Sunday Devotions - What a Gift!

2011-12-25T02:00:00.000-06:00

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

you may now dismiss your servant in peace.

For my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and the glory of your people Israel.”

Luke 2:28-32

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Dear Heavenly Father,

For giving us the Greatest gift on this Christmas Day.

And what a gift!

The magnitude and the grandeur of Your Gift Jesus is far beyond what we can fathom. A Gift we are not worthy of and a gift we can't give nearly enough thanks for. All we can do in thanks is believe in Your promise of salvation. Thank You.

Amen.

Tracking Santa

2011-12-24T11:25:00.003-06:00

I wasn't planning on posting today, on Christmas Eve, but I just remembered about one of our Christmas Eve traditions I thought I'd share.

DR found it a few years ago; every Christmas Eve we track Santa's trip around the world via NORAD.

Usually we end up turning it on in the afternoon but we remembered early this year and have been watching Santa travel around Asia this morning. The really cool thing about the site is the videos of different parts of the world from Santa's point of view; Wall of China, Eiffel Tower, etc.

The kids like it and DR and I enjoy watching the videos.

Merry Christmas everyone! And follow Santa and make sure you are tucked into bed before he gets to your house!!

Foody Friday - Apple-Orange Baked Chicken

2011-12-23T02:00:00.000-06:00

A while ago I was able to download The Everything Potluck Cookbook onto my Kindle for free. I have found so many good recipes in this cookbook that I would say the current price ($9-$13) on Amazon is definitely worth it.

Apple-Orange Baked Chicken sounded rather odd but turned out to be some of the best chicken ever to come out of my kitchen.

Apple-Orange Baked Chicken

3-4 chicken breasts

1 t. salt

1/4 t. pepper

1 t. paprika

1 orange, sliced

1/2 onion, sliced

1/4 c. butter, melted

1 c. applesauce

1/3 c. orange marmalade

1/2 c. orange juice

1 T. olive oil

Preheat oven to 375. Sprinkle chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and paprika. Line roasting pan with orange and onion slices and top with chicken. Drizzle chicken with melted butter and set aside.

In bowl, combine remaining ingredients and mix well. Pour over chicken.

Cover pan with foil and bake for 30 minutes, basting once with orange mixture. Uncover and bake for 30-40 minutes longer, basting frequently until chicken is thoroughly cooked.

Don't serve the onions and oranges that are under the chicken; they are there to provide lots of flavor and cushion the chicken from the oven's heat.

Although the recipe calls for continual basting, I forgot to do it. It turned out fabulous nonetheless. This was by far the moistest chicken I've ever eaten. I thought the combination of onion and oranges were odd but the flavor was subtle and just a bit sweet. The only problem with this recipe is that my boys refused to eat the applesauce on top. They thought it was just too weird. I didn't let them see the oranges and onions in the bottom of the pan, that would have resulted in mutiny! But what they don't know won't hurt them!

Golden Santa Bread..yum, yum.

2011-12-22T02:00:00.001-06:00

I saw this on Pinterest yesterday and thought it would be so much fun to make! The kids agreed to help and really, even with three kids swarming around it, Santa wasn't hard to make at all. The kids did most of the work and in fact we started it at 3:30 and were eating it for dinner. (Here's the recipe for the bread and here is the step by step picture instructions on how to put Santa together.)

I tried to teach Yip and Yap how to braid in hopes they would braid all of Santa's beard together. I was hoping to have a Captain Jack Sparrow look to the whole thing.

They all had to take turns "painting".

The boys were just sure that Yahoo wasn't doing it right and would mess it up.

Can't little sisters do anything right?

Hmmm, ours wasn't perfect but it was fun and tasted great!

The bread was super easy to make and it was kind of a sweet bread, fabulous when warm and smothered in butter. Isn't everything?

It was so easy and fun to make I'm trying to figure out how to change it up for other holidays. A big red bread heart, a giant painted Easter Egg, leprachaun's pot of gold....hmmm, I'm going to have to look into some of these ideas!

Snow...but no Blizzard.

2011-12-21T02:00:00.000-06:00

Well, we did get some snow and it was enough for a day off of school but no blizzard. We only had about 6 inches or so. It wasn't much but it was sure enough to play in.

Yahoo thought it was sand when she woke up Tuesday morning and saw a fine layer blowing across the road. Ha!

The kids ended up staying out playing for over two hours.

As much fun as the snow was, we couldn't stay out all day long.

The boys decided they wanted to play Rich Farmer, Poor Farmer...a Monopoly like game DR had from when he was a kid. It's 33 years old!

It was a good day having the kids home all day. We stayed busy but we were definitely stir crazy by the end of the evening. It makes me wonder what we'll be doing to combat cabin fever over Christmas vacation.

Spiral Barbed Wire Painting

2011-12-20T02:00:00.000-06:00

No school today!! Yip and Yap and I have a list of things to do; make noodles, stay in our jammies, watch movies and eat popcorn.

Since I'm writing this Monday night I can't tell you the latest update on our blizzard other than it is blowing hard outside and there is snow on the ground. I guess the brunt of the storm will hit overnight. Although the weather guy is calling for over a foot of snow I can't see that it will be here for long. As hard as the wind is blowing I think it may all end up in Oklahoma...but we'll see.

Anyhow...I finally finished my latest painting Sunday night. As you can see I'm still on a circle kick.

I love this one! It's acrylic on a cereal box, about 7 1/2 inch square. DR asked what I was going to do with all these little circle paintings. I think I'll do a few more and then frame them all together in one big frame. We'll have to see how many I get and how they look together.

I intended it to look something like the middle of a corn cob with some abstract qualities to it.

I love painting on cereal boxes.

Once they are covered in acrylic no one can tell that it's cheap and besides, it's free. I do wish I had planned better though because the staple marks are showing through the paint :(

YAY!! A BLIZZARD!! (Not the DQ kind either...)

2011-12-19T12:54:00.003-06:00

So sorry it's been a few days since I've posted. Substitute teaching, sick kids, Christmas programs, doctors appointments...I've been running everywhere! Blogging has had to take a back burner.

But good news for my blog, according to the weather I will be stuck at home for a while so maybe I'll catch up on some posts! After Kansas enduring the driest and hottest year on record this year it looks like we are going to get all of our moisture at once for 2011.

This is our forecast for the next 24 hours. We are right under the "R".

Yay!! A Blizzard!!! A White CHRISTMAS!!

I say "yay" but I'm pretty nervous. If I were in Indiana I wouldn't be too worried about a foot of snow but being out here in Kansas this could really screw some stuff up. I really doubt that Kansas is ready to deal with this much snow and ice. Oh yeah...ICE...cuz it's been raining all morning with temperatures quickly dropping to freezing. I doubt they have bunkers full of salt and I couldn't even tell you if SW Kansas has snowplows. Add in the fact that there are so many people living far from towns on not the best roads, this blizzard could strand a lot of people at home. Stranded at home wouldn't be bad, people have been stocking up for this storm all weekend but I'm just hoping that we don't lose power for too long. That could be disaster for some of the more rural folks.

So keep the Southwest, me and all my Kansas friends, in your prayers today!

And I hope you are blessed with a white Christmas too!

Foody Friday - 19th century Gingerbread

2011-12-16T02:00:00.000-06:00

During our Christmas party at Fort Larned last weekend our family indulged in LOTS of goodies baked from 19th century recipes. Yap ended up falling in love with traditional gingerbread. I think he must have eaten at least 6 or 7 slices!

We decided on the way home that we needed to find a similar recipe to make the wonderful gingerbread at home. I happen to have the cookbook A Prairie Kitchen which is a compilation of recipes from the Prairie Farmer magazine between 1841-1900.

The Gingerbread recipe in The Prairie Kitchen was approved by Yap.

Soft Gingerbread

published in Prairie Farmer - May 5, 1877

1 c. dark molasses (I only had 3/4 c. light)

1/2 c. packed brown sugar

1/2 c. butter

1 t. ground ginger

1 t. cinnamon

1 egg

1/2 cup sour milk (or buttermilk)

2 1/2 c. flour

2 t. baking soda

1/3 c. hot tap water

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. In a medium saucepan combine the molasses, brown sugar and butter. Heat until just boiling, remove from heat and it cool. Add the ginger, cinnamon, egg, milk and flour and mix well. Carefully add the baking soda to the hot water. It will bubble up. Then add the dissolved soda to the batter. Bake in five mini loaf pans for 45 minutes or until the center is firm.

I used a regular loaf pan and it took close to an hour and half before the bread was done. I might kick up the heat to 350 next time.

Wouldn't this make great toast on Christmas morning?

Frozen Fog

2011-12-15T02:00:00.001-06:00

Over the weekend we had some heavy fog roll through which is kind of unusual. It left a heavy and dense layer of frost on just about everything. It was beautiful.

I think this one is my favorite; the combination of textures.

Almost eerie isn't it?

Permanent Dinosaur Jammies

2011-12-14T02:00:00.003-06:00

The preschool workings of the brain baffle me. How, for example, can Yahoo watch the same Dora the Explorer DVD everyday and never get bored? Why are cold hot dogs and macaroni and cheese preferable to hot ones? What on earth is the attraction of smearing hand lotion all over my bathroom mirror?

And now, the latest round of odd preschooler behavior....

...the dinosaur jammies.

Exactly 12 days ago I bought these pj's at a church garage sale. Yeah, I knew they were boy jammies but they were cheap, in really good condition, soft and warm. Yahoo said she'd wear them when I showed them to her so we took them home and she's worn them ever since.

Literally! EV-ER-SINCE. For 12 days straight she has worn them. She wears them to bed at night. She insists on wearing them at nap time too. In the morning I'll dress her in jeans but half an hour later she'll have changed into the dinosaurs. I'll dress her to go to the grocery store and as soon as we hit the front door she strips and puts on the dinosaurs.

I guess I shouldn't complain...at least she's wearing clothes now. A month ago I was worried I had a future streaker on my hands.

I've washed them three times in 12 days. And each time it was torture for Yahoo as she waited by the dryer with tears in her eyes. Weird kid.

Maybe this is just the beginning of fighting over clothes with my daughter. After all I remember fighting with my dad over my wearing jeans he thought were too tight or stealing his flannel shirts to wear when I was in high school. Flannel cool? Yeah, I guess I was weird too.

Maybe I should start a scrapbook just for Yahoo's crazy fashions through the years. If she's anything like me, I grew up in the 80's and 90's after all, it could be quite interesting.

*sigh*

It's time to wash the jammies again...pray for our sanity.

Lowering of the Flag

2011-12-13T02:00:00.005-06:00

Saturday night DR, the kids and I headed over to Fort Larned, for the second year, to participate in an 1860's Christmas party. We ate some great food made from 19th century recipes; Marble cake, Cranberry Pie, Gingerbread, Eggnog...ugg..I had quite the stomach ache driving home.

The employees of the Fort were dressed in 1860's costume and a group of probably 50 or more huddled around a wood burning stove in a room lit only by candle light while we sang Christmas carols.

I fully intended to take lots of pics of the food and people but the room was so dark it was difficult to take many pictures. I could have of course, but the use of the flash in such a dark room really took away from the spirit of the old fashioned Christmas so I refrained from taking too many.

However, one of my favorite aspects of Fort Larned is the giant flag in the middle of the parade grounds. As you drive up to the fort you can see it over a mile away waving above the tree tops. Saturday night we happened to get there in time to see them lower the flag. It was really neat to see. This, I did take a lot of photos of. Scroll down quick...and enjoy the scene from a Civil War fort!

I'm such a sucker for just about anything historical!

Marker Monday - Fold a Dollar Bill into a Ring.

2011-12-12T02:00:00.000-06:00

How to Fold a Dollar Bill into a Ring.

Lay a crisp(ish) bill faceup on the table in front of you.

Fold up the top and bottom white borders as shown. Crease the folds with your fingernails.

Fold the bill in half lengthwise.

Fold the bill in half lengthwise again.

Flip it over so that "The United States of America" is across the top.

On the right hand (call it End A) end fold back the white border to create a tab. Then fold it again to form a square with the number 1 inside the folded square.

On the left end (call it End B) fold up the end to the back to form a right angle, about 2 inches from the end. To make the ring even smaller fold it about 3 inches. Fold a few and you'll get the idea of where you need to make the fold to fit your finger.

Fold End B down over the front of the strip.

Now flip the strip over so End A and End B have switched places.

Place end B on your finger and wrap End A around your finger and over End B and fit it to your finger.

End B is now pointing down and End A is pointing to the left.

Fold End B up...

...and over the back of the strip.

Fold End A to the right over End B and tuck the white tab behind End B snugly.

Your ring is now ready to wear!

Sunday Devotions - Simplicity

2011-12-11T02:00:00.000-06:00

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
3 John 1:4

Once again it's Saturday night and I'm trying to come up with my Sunday devotional. Usually I don't mind skipping a blogging day now and then...but not Sunday. My Sunday blog has, for me, become the most important and hardest to write. I'm no great theological scholar, and consider myself lousy with words, but I write my Sunday posts with the hopes that someone, somewhere, someday my be led to Christ through something I've written.

It's Saturday night and I'm grasping at straws...what to write? What to write?? I'm flipping through books and verses when I come upon a book on my Kindle I had forgotten about; Little Folded Hands Prayers for Children. I even found the prayer I grew up reciting.

Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray Thee Lord my soul to take. Amen.

...and there are others that caught my eye.

I thank Thee, Lord, for sleep and rest. For all the things that I love best. Now guide me through another day And bless my work and bless my play. Lord, make me strong for noble ends. Protect and bless my loving friends; Of all mankind good Christians make. All this I ask for Jesus sake. Amen.

All praise to Thee, my God, this night for all the blessings of the light; Keep me, O keep me, King of kings, beneath Thine own almighty wings. Amen.

Sometimes I struggle with communicating my thoughts, especially on Sundays. I have the idea in my head that I have to have some long winded message. Have you ever noticed how quickly a child can get the truth out? Kids get straight to the point. A lot like some of the prayers I came across. They pack a lot of meaning in a few words.

I have a hard time writing and communicating; I'm not good with words. And, sometimes, when I pray, getting my thoughts across in my conversation with God seems impossible until I find myself rambling. I guess these prayers for children have reminded me that prayers don't have to be grandiose. I can keep it simple because, really, even if I don't say the right words God knows my intent.

Dear God, Thanks for listening and hearing me. Amen.

Foody Friday - Avocado Stuffed Pork Chops

2011-12-09T02:00:00.000-06:00

If you got past the name of today's post then I applaud you. I admit avocado isn't for everyone and I was the only one who ate this dish (and loved it!) but if you like guacamole I think this would be a fun recipe to try and play around with.

Avocado Stuffed Pork Chops

6 - 1in. thick pork loin chops

1 t. salt

1/8 t. pepper

1 mahed avocado

2 T lemon juice

2 T butter

3 cloves garlic

1 diced avocado

1/4 c. flour

2 T butter

1 T olive oil

Preheat oven to 350. Cut a deep pocket into the side of the chops and sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. In bowl, combine mashed avocado, lemon juice, butter and garlic and mix well. Stir in diced avocado. Using a small spoon, fill pockets of chops with this mix. Secure with toothpick and sprinkle chops with flour on both sides.

Melt butter with olive oil in a large skillet on high heat. Add chops and brown on both sides. Transfer to oven. Bake for 20-30 minutes. Let stand for five minutes then serve.

I thought this buttery and melt in your mouth. I probably would have cut the garlic in half though, it was just a bit much for my taste. I think stuffing the chop with guacamole would be great too! What other variations should I try? If you make this I'd love to know what you thought.

Our Gingerbread House Tradition

2011-12-07T02:00:00.006-06:00

We had a pretty busy weekend!

First a tumbleweed snowman then meeting Santa (and the realization that I no longer have babies!) and finally we finished our weekend with our third year of making gingerbread houses.

Each Halloween I rummage through the kids' trick or treat candy, eat all the chocolate (kinda kidding) then freeze about half of it for decorating gingerbread houses.

The first year I did this I thought I could stick the house together with frosting..WRONG! It fell apart. So since then I hot glue the houses together first. What a lifesaver!

I don't decorate one just the kids.

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite holiday traditions.

I just love to watch my kids be creative.

Yahoo was going to join us that day but her nap got all screwed up and she woke up late.

Not that she would have actually decorated anything; once she came to the table she didn't do much but eat candy!

This year we invited a "grandma" from church to come help us. She only has one grandchild who's in college so we thought we could all enjoy decorating houses together.

I think she had a lot of fun. I think she talked and played with us more than she decorated!

And thanks Aunt Jewel for the gingerbread man kit! They turned out very neat!

Yip even made a Frankenstein cookie. Can you pick it out?

Hint; it's the one with the green face.

A lot of people have been blogging about their holiday traditions;

(read about Sarah and her family's Cookie Day...a tradition of 32 years!)

We have one or two more holiday traditions I may get a chance to share with you. But I want to know what kind of traditions your family has? What special holiday activity do you look forward to sharing with your family every year?

Meeting Santa!!

2011-12-06T02:00:00.002-06:00

Santa came to town this weekend.

Ummm, sorry Santa but I'm afraid that me little boys might just break your leg sitting there. I mean, dang, Yip must weigh 100 lbs! Okay, maybe not quite 100 lbs. but I sure can't pick those boys up anymore!

And just when did my boys get so tall? Some days I could swear that Yap is nothing but legs.

Sorry but I'm still thinking they should look like this...

It took a bit of convincing but Yahoo finally sat on Santa's lap too.

Nope, that can't be Yahoo.

I'm just sure just yesterday she looked like this...

Dear Santa,

for Christmas this year I just want them to stay little...a little bit longer.

Our Tumbleweed Snowman

2011-12-05T02:00:00.003-06:00

Yip and I finally did it yesterday; we made our tumbleweed snowman. I doubt will get enough snow this winter for a snowball much less a snowman!

It was kind of poky and my fingers have some splinters.

It sure didn't take long either. Of course probably the biggest challenge was finding a pole long enough to go through three tumbleweeds. Maybe they won't blow away now.

Pipe cleaners were perfect for eyes, nose and mouth but Yip and I are at a loss for what to do for a hat....any suggestions?

Sunday Devotions - Don't Ask These Questions at Christmas!!!

2011-12-04T02:00:00.000-06:00

There was a certain man whose name was Elkanah. He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD at Shiloh. Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb. Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”

Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the LORD’s house. In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly. As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”

“Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”

Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”

taken from 1Samuel 1:1-17

I chose a rather long Bible passage for today's devotion but bear with me because today's devotion is rather different than normal.

I didn't get married until I was 27 years old. I didn't plan on waiting that long before I met and married my husband but it just worked out that way. For most of my twenties holidays and family get togethers were NOT something I looked forward to because inevitably I was faced with the questions, "Are you dating anyone?" or "When are you going to get married?" I figured the day a relative asked me if I was a lesbian was the day that I stopped going to family get togethers.

It wasn't that I WANTED to be alone all those years. It hurt. I was full of anger and grief when I saw one of my sisters or cousins happy with their boyfriend/fiance/husband. Why couldn't I have that? I was miserable and darn, WHY did my family keeping having to remind me of my horrible lot in life by bringing up those questions year after year?? At least it was never my parents or grandparents who bombarded me with those questions, it always seemed to be the "crazies" in my family. But it didn't mean the questions hurt any less.

Poor Hannah. Her story has always resonated with me. Her husband loved her and could have cared less whether she had children or not but it was the rest of her family and society that kept questioning and looking down on her because she wasn't a mother like other women. Yet, year after year she had to be reminded of her pain and grief of being childless. She wasn't bound to forget it whether she was reminded or not! It wasn't she complained loudly about either, she prayed in her heart, quietly, for a child.

I said today's devotion was a bit different because I want to ask you readers a favor. Please don't ask questions this holiday season.

Is there a young couple who still don't have children after 3,4,5 years of marriage? Don't ask. Maybe they are trying desperately to have a baby and it just isn't working. They are already stressed and full of anguish and fear. Please don't add to their sorrows by asking when they'll have a baby. You asking isn't going to make a baby happen any sooner.

What about the young single man/woman in your family who still doesn't have a significant other? Don't ask. It is our human nature to find companionship with others, of course, but that doesn't make it easier to find. That young single doesn't want to be reminded AGAIN that they are all alone. They know it well enough, they are reminded every day and being alone stinks.

Put yourself in someone else's shoes. How would you like to be hounded year after year about marriage and babies when it's all you've ever wanted but have yet to find the key to. Instead, if you are really concerned about a certain family member, and not just NOSY, ask if you can pray for them. Help them pray for that ONE THING their heart desires most of all; a baby or a loving spouse or whatever.

I never had anyone ask to me if they could pray for me during those single years. (One friend did offer to buy my membership on Harmony.com though) But praying for someone will bring more peace to their lives than questions ever could. Like Eli the priest, he blessed Hannah that what she prayed for was given to her. He didn't know what she was praying for only that she prayed for it with all her heart. Pray for them please...no questions.

Dear Heavenly Father, our Earthly family are close to our hearts and thoughts especially during the holiday season. Reveal to us Lord how we may best help and support our loved ones this year and the years to come. Amen.

The Cow Game Road Trip!

2011-12-03T02:00:00.000-06:00

A friend passed on this game to me that we played the whole road trip to Indiana and back. I can't believe how long it kept us all occupied and boy was it fun!

The Cow-Culator. Divide the people in your car into two teams; left and right. Decide when your game will end (miles/hours).

Count the cows you see on your side of the car.

That means if you pass a field of cows (or a feed lot!) count fast! Each cow is worth one point.

If you pass a cemetary on your side of the car, the opposing team has to yell "Your cows are buried!" and you lose all your points. To prevent this your team, the one with the cemetery on their side of the car should yell "Cemetery!" first to keep all their points.

Windmills and white horses are worth 50 points each.

And a peg legged man is worth 500 points!

We had so much fun with this game, especially through Kansas which is of course filled with cows and windmills. The game got really fun when we tried to distract the other team so they didn't see the cows. Or when we started arguing about just what constitutes as a cow? Does it have to be real or can in be a photo on a billboard? What about a peg legged man? Can we count the one on the movie playing in the back seat? (How to Train Your Dragon, Peter Pan, what others?) And just how much white has to be on a horse to make it a "white horse"? DR, who drove almost the whole way, was REALLY competitive! He saw every stinking cemetery and I lost every time! I think there came a point when DR and I were playing and the kids weren't! This was the best car game I've ever played.

Providing Educational Experiences

2011-12-02T02:00:00.000-06:00

It's no secret that I love rural life and our little rural school is no exception. Yip and Yap are two of only 20 1st graders. Their teahcers and principal konws everyone. My boys routinely give hugs to the varsity football players when they see them right after school. And there is ample opportunity for students to have one on one attention from their teachers.

Recently, however, I was talking to a mother of a high school senior in our district. She did have some complaints about the school; it doesn't prepare students for college and it doesn't provide enough experiences and opportunities for students.

I have to disagree with her 1st point. The school DOES prepare students for college. Last year's seniors included a pre-med major and an student who is in the engineering program at Purdue this year. A state senator can also boast of being a recent graduate of our little high school. I believe my friend's son's problem isn't that he isn't prepared for college but that he doesn't know what he wants to do when he gets there.

But the fact that this particular senior boy doesn't know what he wants to major in could be from lack of experiences. Of course our high school, of 100 students, has sports, band and an academic team. But there is no FFA program, which I hold in hig regard for its ability to instill leadership qualities in high school students. Like any school our students go on field trips but honestly, destinations are limited. For our students to have the opportunity to visit a museum of the same caliber as those in Chicago or Indianapolis would require an overnight trip.

I'm an advocate of the importance of a well rounded education, not just in school but at home as well. If the school can't provide the experiences that my kids need then I see it's DR and my job to provide them.

If you've read my blog routinely you know DR and I take road trips...a lot. Amarillo, Taos, Ft. Larned, Colorado. It's not just about our family seeing new places but experiencing new things and learning about people and places outside their community. DR and I have been discussing visiting a military base because Yap wants to be a soldier. I'm not pushing Yap to be a soldier if he changes his mind in the future but this is his interest now and I feel it's important to provide support and experiences for my kids' interests at any age.

We also read....a LOT in our home. Books, magazines, newspapers....it's not uncommon for my kids to be on the floor surrounded by books before they go to school. DR and I both are constantly on the lookout for new and interesting reading material for our kids.

Rural living is wonderful but it does have drawbacks. Isolation and lack of broad educational experiences is one of those obstacles we face out here in SW Kansas. For some the solution would be homeschooling. NOT ME! Overall, the school does a MUCH better job that I ever could on my own. Right now my job is to supplement my kids' educations with road trips, reading or whatever...but I know I could do better.

So, my question to those of you living in very rural America, how do you provide educational experiences for your children outside of those offered in your rural school?

Finally Home!

2011-11-30T02:00:00.000-06:00

Phew! We made it. In one piece. 1982 miles...give or take a few.

Mile 102 - We were all immersed in a VERY competitive Cow Game. I lost. (I'll blog on that later)

Mile 504 - Yahoo was awake at 5 AM! "Child!!! Don't you realize this is vacation?? Sleep!!!"

Mile 631 - We checked out the St. Louis Arch and ate at one of my favorite restaurants in St. Louis, Morgan Street Brewery.

Mile 780 - Finally! We made it to family who had a bonfire and hot dogs waiting for us. Yay! I think Yap's blisters will heal soon. For some reason he was fascinated with the burning coals the next morning.

Mile 786 - We visited a place where DR took me on one of our very first dates, Merom Bluffs. The bluffs, in Indiana, over look the Wabash River and Illinois. The first time DR brought me here it was covered in a pristine blanket of snow. It's still lovely, even in dreary November.

Mile 925 - DR and I did ended up in a huge argument (over something VERY stupid) on my sister's front lawn. (Sorry Officer!) I blame it all on not enough sleep and too much time in the car!

Mile 1083 - I met one one very brave woman! My youngest brother's new girlfriend joined in our Christmas festivities. This was no small feat on her part. She faced my brother's grandmother, great aunt, parents, one cousin, five siblings, five in-laws, five nephews (two of which were puking) and two nieces...and a LOT of noise. Not only did she tolerate all of us but she did it two days in a row! Crazy or brave??

Mile 1094 - Sunday morning worshiping in the little country church where I grew up. Nothing had changed. Yet, everything had. I had tears in my eyes.

Mile 1100 - Guns!!! What a tradition! Part of my mother's family gets together twice a year to eat and target shoot!

Marvel Man and Officer (my BIL and Sister) brought TWO cases of handguns for us to shoot! How fun, of course they had to coach me in the right way to hold a pistol. It has sure been a long time since I'd been out on the range!

Yip shot all afternoon, despite the weather being cold and rainy. He sure enjoyed all the help Papa gave him. The Hoosiers were tired of rain...I could have stood in it all day long.

Our 6 day trip went by in a whirlwind and all too soon it was time to head back to Kansas. I don't say head home because HOME will always be Indiana!

Mile 1453 - After two nights of sleeping on couches (no complaints!) DR and I finally got to sleep in the same bed. DR is a good cuddler but he's kind of a blanket hog.

Mile 1704 - $7 Wrangler jeans for Yip and Yap! I love Outlet Malls!

Mile 1977 - Yahoo FINALLY fell asleep after hours of being pretty darn slap happy. Five miles later we were home.

I loved being home. I loved seeing family and friends, although I didn't get to see everyone or those I did for as long as I would have liked. I loved seeing trees and smelling and feeling rain again. But, I was sure glad to leave when we did. The 4-8 inches Indiana received a couple days later would NOT have been much fun!

Sunday Devotions - God's presence

2011-11-27T02:00:00.000-06:00

My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. Exodus 33:14

As you read this my family and I are probably driving somewhere. This Thanksgiving week we ventured out on the trip from Indiana to Kansas. Although I have been looking forward to going home for weeks, I can't say that I've been too fired up about the actual 900 mile trip to get there.

I don't mind road trips....by myself, but traveling with three kids can be exhausting; keeping them entertained and preventing insanity within the confines of a car. No matter how nice the hotel, I never seem to get any rest and then, of course, the constant traveling from one destination to the next really zaps my energy.

I'm grumbling about a six day trip. No wonder the Israelites complained...their trip lasted 40 years!! Can you imagine the kids on that trip? How would Israelite parents answer the question, "Are we there yet?"

I think the most exhausting thing about road trips are the unknowns and the idea that we are all alone on the road. In the case of delays or problems, there often aren't friends or family close enough to call for help. But God's presence is with us all the time. God was with the Israelites the whole time, though they often forgot. Our family has been praying for God's presence and protection on this trip for at least a week. Although we're not on the road as I write this I've felt much calmer as I've prepared for this trip. Already I'm comforted that no matter what occurs God will always be by my side to protect my family and I. Just thinking of God's presence, no matter where I am, brings peace of mind.

Is God walking or riding with you today?

Today, dear Jesus, my feet will carry me to many places. I treasure your presence, and I long for the rest only you can give. Work in me....Amen. (God's Promises to a Woman's Heart)

I Don't.....

2011-11-26T02:00:00.000-06:00

I Don't....

....do drugs. Yes, I'm an art teacher, and no, that doesn't automatically make me a pothead. Art teachers CAN be normal.

.....have any yearning to read or watch the Twilight series. Vampire Romance? Didn't Buffy cover that already?

.....have any tattoos, though I think they can be really cool. Though the belly button piercing and shotgun saga is well documented.

....ever have enough time to visit all the people I'd like to when we return home to Indiana on visits. If it weren't for Facebook I'd have lost track of lots of friends and family long ago.

....know if I will survive a six day, 1800 mile trip with my husband and my kids. The family closeness may just kill me. Pray for us!

....have a clue what I want to do when I grow up, or at least when Yahoo is in school all day. I have a couple of things I'd like to do when the time comes but I don't know if any of them are feasible.

....don't miss high school but I sure miss college.

....ever want to live in a large city. Even Indianapolis is too big for me.

....like the color pink or sparkles.

....look forward to the day when Yahoo asks me to make Barbie clothes.

....think that my couch will be able to survive Yip and Yap bouncing and wrestling for another 6 months.

....remember the last date DR and I went on. Would it still be considered a date if we hired a babysitter just so he and I could take a nap?

...feel as old as I am...most days :)

...I don't have a clue what God wants out of me...I kind of wish he'd clue me in.

...regret that I grew up the oldest of 7 kids. There is a lot to be said for big families.

...don't want to have 7 kids!

...don't know where I saw this writing prompt for "I don't..." but I think it was a nice blogging twist.

Happy Saturday,
Prairie Mother

Foody Friday - Gooey Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie

2011-11-25T02:00:00.000-06:00

I found this Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe and I don't think I'll ever make chocolate chip cookies again. I absolutely love cooking and baking that cuts down on doing dishes afterwards. And this...this cookie only dirties one skillet. Whoop!

Gooey Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie

1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter in an 8 inch cast iron skillet set over medium-low heat. Stir in sugars and vanilla and remove from heat. Let rest until pan is warm, but no longer very hot, about 5 minutes.

2. Crack an egg onto the butter and sugar mixture, and use a fork to whisk it well into the mixture. Place flour, baking soda, and salt on top, and very carefully stir into the mixture until smooth and well-mixed. Stir in chocolate chunks. Place in the oven for 15 minutes, or until starting to turn golden on the top and around the edges, but soft in the center. (I baked it for 20 minutes to get rid of some of the gooeyness.) Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Or serve warm on the end of spoon, no ice cream required!

Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T02:00:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving

by Lizelia Augusta Jenkins Moorer

Let us give thanks to God above,

Thanks for expressions of His love,

Seen in the book of nature, grand

Taught by His love on every hand.

Let us be thankful in our hearts,

Thankful for all the truth imparts,

For the religion of our Lord,

All that is taught us in His word.

Let us be thankful for a land,

That will for such religion stand;

One that protects it by the law,

One that before it stands in awe.

Thankful for peace o’er land and sea,

Thankful for signs of liberty,

Thankful for homes, for life and health,

Pleasure and plenty, fame and wealth.

Thankful for friends and loved ones, too,

Thankful for all things, good and true,

Thankful for harvest in the fall,

Thankful to Him who gave it all.

Happy Thanksgiving to All where ever and how ever you may be celebrating it!
Prairie Mother

Vote on my Christmas Card Magnet!

2011-11-22T02:00:00.000-06:00

DR and I started a Christmas tradition when our boys were only toddlers. We send a wallet sized family photo on a business card size magnet along with our Christmas cards. It's been pretty popular with family! I've been to a few people's houses where our growing magnet collection is on their fridge! And of course once we started Grandma expects it every year and I can't disappoint Grandma!

For months I have been trying to get a good family photo for our magnet! Yip and Yap seem to think normal smiles are over rated...gggrrr.

Finally, Sunday morning before church I dragged everyone outside for a photo. Bbbbrrrr, it was in the 40's and cold and I was in no mood for any funny business. We were going to do this quick! I had seen this idea from a professional photographer, posing a family reading books. Since we are big readers I thought it would be cute! Well, we rushed it and couldn't get a photo of Yap with his eyes open but I did manage to narrow down our options to these two photos.

Option #1

Option #2

Yap's eyes are closed and this is Yip's version of a smile.

*sigh* ...at least they are natural I suppose.

So, help me out.

Tell me in the comments below which photo we should send with Christmas cards!

Marker Monday - Handprint Calendar Gift Idea!

2011-11-21T02:00:00.000-06:00

Warning!!!

To my Mother and Grandmother,

unless you want to ruin the surprise of your Christmas gifts STOP READING NOW!

okay.....

.....that should be enough warning for them!

My wonderful friend Melissa who runs our playgroup had a big workshop day, 7 hours long, where she had different stations set up for us to do 12 different paint hand prints with our toddlers. After they were dry she cut them out, added details and and a poem, and we attached the hand prints onto a calendar for a Christmas gift for grandparents!!

They turned out so well I just had to share. Maybe you have enough time to do something like this with your kids. Melissa was kind enough to set this up early for me because our family Christmas is next weekend in Indiana.

This is the cover made from two handprints.

The first page. I wasn't able to fit all three kids handprints on every page but we rotated so there were two per month.

Then with every month Melissa put a matching poem.I won't put them all up because there are poems all over the Internet you could use but for example, January's says;

These aren't just five snowmen

as anyone can see.

I made them with my hand

which is a part of me.

Now each year when you trim the tree

You'll look back and recall

when my hand was just this small.

Melissa also had a lot of options if you didn't like the handprint she had for a particular month. There were also strawberries, octopus, firemen, ghosts, lobsters, and some that you could do with your feet too!

Fish and flags for July?

Yes, odd but my boys didn't want to do the flags!

The apples turned out perfect if you only paint the palms.

These are such a cool keepsake for grandparents, I can't wait to give it to them this weekend! This makes me wish I ran a daycare, wouldn't this be a cool thing to do with your kids all year long and surprise their parents with?

What kind of homemade gifts are your kids making this year?

Sunday Devotions - Looking forward to Death

2011-11-20T02:00:00.000-06:00

I Corinthians 2:9 ‘Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.’"

I recently read the book, Heaven is for Real, the story of 4 year old Colton's visit to Heaven. In the book, his father Todd relates how after his son's heavenly experience he had trouble getting Colton to be safe. He tried to explain to the little boy that if he wasn't careful around the street, for example, that he could get hurt and die. Which the little boy replied joyously, "Then I could go back to heaven and see Grandpa!!!" The thought of death was exciting for Colton. It was something he looked forward to because he had already been to Heaven and he KNEW it was a WONDERFUL place! A place to look forward to going to.

But honestly, don't we all fear death just a little bit? Not often do we hear someone wanting to speed up the time they have on earth. Shouldn't we though. I mean, Heaven is beyond what we can imagine! We can't fathom the grandeur of what God has in store for us, but we know it's going to be great.

John 14:2-4

In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

Revelation 21:4-8

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

Have you ever heard the song There Are No Band Aids in Heaven?

I love that song. It's just another reminder that we shouldn't fear death because by accepting Christ we have also accepting the great things he has in store for us.

Dear Heavenly Father, Although I know You don't want us to go looking for death help us to overcome our fear and anxiety of it. Help us, as adults, to learn to view this world and the world you have in store for us with the trust and innocence of a child. Amen.

Footloose; the TRUE Oklahoma Inspiration.

2011-11-19T02:00:00.000-06:00

I don't remember when I first saw the movie Footloose but I've always liked watching it. I'm not planning on seeing the remake though. Guess I'm a snob. I always wanted a pair of red cowboy boots like Ariel. I didn't realize till later that she probably wasn't the best character to dress like.

Growing up I always heard from my dad that the movie Footloose was about my cousin Kim's high school in Oklahoma. Nah, I always thought, it must be somewhere similar.

But last weekend we were in Oklahoma visiting Kim for an early Thanksgiving dinner (She's so organized with her Thanksgiving dinner notebook!) and after we were all stuffed with turkey and pie we couldn't do much else but sit and talk and we got Kim talking about her prom.

In 1980 she was a sophomore in high school and the students wanted a dance but the law forbid public dancing. The laws were written back in a time to prevent dance halls, a 100 years before. So the principal and the students went before the town council to get the law changed. Kim remembers going and thinking somebody was going to get into a fistfight over it. The most opposition against dancing was the local ministers.

The law ended up getting changed and the students were able to have their first dance and my cousin Kim got to go. They had a banquet dinner before the dance at their school. The problem was that this little Oklahoma town not being allowed to dance had made national news and the night of the prom there were all kinds of reporters outside the school. The cafeteria area where they were going to have their dinner had a wall of windows at one end that had to be blacked out with dark paper so the students could have some privacy. After their dinner the students went and changed, the dark paper was taken down and the reporters were allowed in but were kept back from the students at a respectable distance.

Kim went on to tell us how all the students were just standing up against the walls because, "Well, we'd never had a dance and who wanted to dance in front of a bunch of reporters?" Then the junior class president and a junior girl started dancing which broke the ice and everyone else joined in. One reporter climbed halfway up a set of stairs and filmed the whole time. Another found the janitor's 8 foot ladder and set it up in the middle of the gym and shot footage down from above. Kim remembers thinking, "What's the big deal? We're just dancing."

Kim's little sister was watching tv that night when a picture of Kim came on the national nightly news. Her sister thought for sure Kim was going to hell because there she was dancing....without any shoes on!! Kim even made the front page of the Chicago Tribune without shoes on...heaven forbid! (I'd sure love to see that photo.)

Now even I wasn't sure just how much of Footloose was inspired by my cousin's school until Mountain Man showed me one of the special features on the Footloose Collector's Edition. And there is footage of the little town we were just a stone's throw from and my cousin Kim getting interviewed all about her prom in 1980.

The inspiration for Footloose. What an interesting high school memory that must be?

Thanks for sharing your story Kim!

Foody Friday - Golden Breaded Pork Tenderloins

2011-11-18T02:00:00.000-06:00

A while back I won the Gooseberry Patch Cookbook Fast Fix Meals from my friend Lana over at Walking the off-beaten path. It has a great bunch of simple recipes and this one has quickly become a favorite in our house!

Golden Breaded Pork Chops

1/2 c. dry bread crumbs

1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese

1 T. dried oregano

1 t. dried marjoram (I didn't have this; substituted sage. yum)

2 eggs, beaten

5 or 6 pork chops

1/2 c. olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

Mix bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and herbs in a shallow bowl; set aside. Beat eggs in a separate bowl. Dip pork chops into egg, then into crumb mixture. Heat oil in a deep skillet over medium low heat. Cook chops for 5-7 minutes on each side until golden, adding salt and pepper to taste. Serve with sides of your choice...fried potatoes and green beans!

These were so good. I'm really glad I used sage instead of marjoram, it added a great flavor! And 6 chops will feed our family for two nights...this recipe is a keeper!