The giving tree....

The kids and I went to the front of the house to see the storm clouded sky. The kids noticed a box on the side of the house.
It has happened again...
I have a hand held mixer and of course my big kitchen aide mixer. Now we have a stand mixer like a hand mixer but for hands free.
Beloved insisted I call the police. Just encase it is stolen and left at our house to be picked up later. There have been no reports of stolen items in our neighborhood.

Well after speaking with the police we were told to post it on the blog encase any of you sweet dears left it for us. This is an expensive mixer!
Upon close examination it has a broken dial. Of course knowing Mr U it is sure to be reparable.

It may have been a display model it show a little use but I am not too sure that it was used it is clean.
Thank you who ever left this fine tool.
The officer asked to request a bow or note in the future so that we could be at ease in receiving it. If it is stolen someone is missing a nice mixer.
We may send it to the lost and found for 90 days but the officer said with it being new that there is little reasoning in it for any owner would not have an ID number or anything for it.
I guess we keep it.
The giving tree has offered many things over the years.
Plastic container (I had prayed for)
a dress (that was my size)
yard table and chairs
a mop
a rug sweeper

Now a very nice hand mixer replacement. I will be able to do two jobs at once.
Yes...I can just hear your giggling now...
"Only me:)"

The sunglass test

What Your Sunglasses Say About You

You are competent, direct, and powerful. You are focused on success in all aspects of your life. You need to be shaded from moochers and parasitic people. You feel sunniest when you're around people as driven and and brilliant as you are.

The Sunglasses Test

My goodness who knew:)

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: I have a loaf of bread that got the edges slightly freezer burned, I will make an egg and soy milk soak with cinnamon and clove with a little vanilla. French toast tonight with home made syrup of pomegranate.

Dry or day old bread is great for french toast. I use many egg, cinnamon cardomon and clove. Soy milk and water. The bread soaked up for aroun an hour.

That is honey butter.
Home made from 3/4 honey and 1/4 butter whipped to submission.

Bacon broiled in the oven (this is a quick trick).

Now some folks think this is a big mess of an oven
Think about it when you fry bacon stove top...how does your stove top, walls and under your cabinet look. Verses the oven and it being contained and most of it just burns off the nest time you use it. It is safer too, I do not get splattered. My time is a valuable commodity. I put it on the pan turn it once and it is done.

lay it out on pure white toweling

Now, after you pat it out...Plate the bacon set aside. Use the toweling to absorb the bacon grease, while it is still warm.

Then walla! toss the oiled towel and the pan is almost clean. A little hot water and away is the mess.

Today I need to grind meat. I got three nice roasts at the end of the week. I will grind and cook up the burger (some of it) for easy meals.

Make and bake a meatloaf for later in the week.

The kids have Volley ball lessons this week.

I made McOmmy's (Relatively) Happy Meals for lunch.
Kids said "They are a "Little" better then McD" no toy *a lot cheaper*:) WELL!
Organic grapes and crisp fresh apples. Whole Wheat bread organic romaine lettuce and fresh ground burger.

Bake a corn bread for tomorrow while the oven is hot.

Tuesday: Chili con carne" (with meat) from the grind yesterday. It will of been precooked. I will have bell peppers and onion in it. Cumin and curry with cayenne. Corn bread with cardamon for its wonderful sweet flavor.
Dice up onion and cut up celery and carrots for snacks.Cut up beppers as well. By dicing up all the vegies I can at one time I make one mess to clean and have it all ready to use as I need it for a day or two. Some things do not cut too early. They tend to loose the nutrients or quality.

Wednesday: Rice and chicken tenders, yet to be determined.

Thursday: Tacos, ground beef precooked with taco seasonins, lettus and cheese, tomaotes.
Homemade beans.
Friday: Meatloaf (sheded carrot, zucinni, egg and oatmeal) prebaked just heat and searve. with baked sweet potatoes.

Saturday: Chicken poppers (baked chicken tender bites that are coated with a breading, with tater tots, fresh fruit.

Sunday: Left over day

Snacks: carrot,celery sticks with peanut butter ,grapes apples, fresh blue berries, muffins and cookies.

Sunday Smiles

Lets see...about this high

We begin with foundations inline...

The second end is a copy of the first and ease begins as the form is being established.
Yes...
I am going to have chickens for eggs.
The $10 each birds I was looking at...Well after praying for birds!
Someone else is holding 10 young mixed Bantoms for $20 total!
It is a woman who does bird rescue.
Gods Provision!
Several folks want to purchase my extra eggs. I just might be able to keep them for free as the extra may just pay for the feed and the coop.

Photo Hunt...What is that?

Corey got it!

Leave your guess in the comments.

Birthday girl making her cake

Mighty Mud Mania "panic"

There is an annual event in Scottsdale Arizona.
Mighty Mud mania it has been held for almost 30 yrs. It has grown into a force to be reckoned with.

Dove braved the slide but did not like soap on her skin.
Sensory integration makes everything "too much"

She did venture down the hill and that was huge for her.

Parents had to leave the kids here to go through the line. My kids would have none of it! Even with a mom type volunteer they would not do it!
The obstical course was just too much for them.

Dove (hand in Hand) with a volunteer walked nervously around the edge. Her feet got just slightly wet that was enough. They even held back the crowd a few moments as to let her feel safer.
Dash ==="NO WAY!" "HE SAID, NO! MOM<>

We then found a very quiet corner of the massive event and with a little coaching from the volunteer the began to blow bubbles.
Dash had to be helped a lot.
I had to put my hand under the bubble to show how it would feel, then his hand on mine and then he allowed it to touch him.
Wow!
It was a moment epiphany in my utter frustration that it hit me.
"Just find what they like and do not even consider the event only the experience that they were able to take in. "
Sometimes I want my kids to be normal so bad I forget they are not.
They can not endure the sounds, sights and smells like we can.
I was able to help them find a scaled down corner and they had fun.
It was like going to Disneyland to climb stairs.

Dash started to let his shoulders down and have fun. This girl is the daughter of the woman who escorted us around trying to help my kids. The parents were not aloud in the event areas.

Wonder began to fall upon him.
Acceptance of my children and the limits they have fell upon me and I too began to find a relaxed moment.
It was so hard when they were both panicked.
The provision of the woman and her daughter really helped. The woman had a little cross dangling from one earring and a peace sign from the other.

This felt good!
I want one of these.
It was a very hot day today.

Even it though began to overwhelm as many people liked it too.
They do not like crowds at all!

Dove filled a bucket three times with sand to make a castle.
Dash just hung back and then began to enjoy imaginary things and tell me the storys of war heros as they fought in the sand.
Dash was hungry at 10:30 he wanted lunch. He needs to eat so often and a lot of it.
It was not lunch time yet at the Mc D so we went to target and got the book bags for school and lunch totes and a folder for each.
They will start school in three weeks.
I found pants for dove for $1.25 two pair and four tops cute button t's for $1.75 each.

We all went out to a treat of a Mc D.
That boy ate a Big Mac and 1/2 large fry and my bread, and wanted more.
It was a nice lunch togeather.
We all returnsed home. It was a bit stressful for me so I was worn out!