Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Tackle It Tuesday

Good Evening all.
I am tackled !
So now I can tackle this post.
Yesterday Dash and I went to the neighbor behind us and gifted her with cookies and a card Dash had made (too cute).
Although we had been given permission last year to pick the branch (of the orange tree) in our yard,
we asked permission again for good measure.


I was able to glean a half bushel of juicing oranges.
One thing here in Arizona is that much fruit rots on the tree
for lack of folk harvesting it.
I soaked them in the tub overnight.
Dash helped load them back into the basket today.

After doing January and February zero balance budgets
we were set to do a household inventory.

Growing up I used to do inventory in my Parents Gas station every year.
Starting at around 9 years of age.
Inventory is a great way to know what you have.
Clear out any thing out dated.
Get set for the next several months to have menu knowledge.
Listed is expiration date/ how many/ size of container and what it is.
Today the pantry , kitchen freezer and refrigerator was accomplished.
No easy task.
It is finished though!
Just need to do the rest of the house,
the outside freezer,
both bathrooms (paper goods,cosmetic and personal care items).
There also is the outside garage storage, and the garage side by side.
This is a lean time of year for us.
Our stock goods are our private savings... as it were.

This is the condiment wall and the rice, grains and paper goods.
Some mixes found cheep as well as yeast and such.
Baking goods.
Everything is stored in date order.
Like kinds of things together.
The inventory will also spur ideas of what to make.
Items with expiration dates upcoming get to the head of the menu ideas.

During the year I will stock pile items that we use commonly.
Checking that the dates are extended.
That is hard winter wheat for baking in the barrel.
Dog treats in the cookie crock.
Thickeners, spices and the like are kept together.

Cereals, crackers low for the kids, soy milk on the floor so if it gets dropped , it will...it has less to fall. Large stocks of rice, sugars and such down low (it is far easier to lift up then to hurt your shoulders lifted it down if it is heavy.

Teas, and all surplus herbs and spices here. All sweeteners together.
The inventory included the refer where every date is noted and listed.
All outdated bottles and such gone.

Then at 4 p.m. I thought I better get dressed for the girl was still in her jammies :)
After suppers of pasta for the kids and left overs for us,
the cake was next.
As the cake was in the red mixer, the frosting in the white mixer the baked bread heals were in the food processor to make bread crumbs for a recipe. I set to get all the items out to make pies.

Once the pies were in the oven and the cake cooled
icing was piped along the edges and then real cherry jam (not sweetened) was spread in the center, the icing holds it in.

The top was then placed on the icing piped and it is now in the refer iceing the icing so that it holds a good shape.
It is homemade butter cream.

Now all the while My Mr. was doing the dishes and keeping up with me very well.

This is Beloved's Christmas gift from me.
This is a deep dish "light Cherry pie". Comstock makes a light cherry it has very little food coloring or sugars in it, tart and yummy.

I love my Man!


After cutting the cake level the trim is a snack for the children. We had extra batter for cup cakes these will be frozen for another date (they must be used though in 30 days).
Using some soy milk and soft real butter I whipped up some butter tree molds for the Christmas supper table. These are antique molds that once belonged to Doves name sake . She has long ago gone home. She will always be in my heart and at the right hand of the thrown of God praying for me both day and night (what a cool job).


With the mess of pie baking I made a gift for me. I love pecan pie and we can have these for our Christmas eve desert. It just came out of the oven. You might just be able to see it boiling.

So tomorrow ...another day.
Fresh orange juice.
To be juiced tomorrow.
Day is done and so is my post.
whew...

Monday, December 22, 2008

"Jesus Cake" Celibrateing the rememberence of the Birth of Christ Jesus


Folks I am a winging it here.
A New Tradition for our Family

Daddy Man an I are creating a new Christ mas for our children.
We have been amiss in our training of them at Christmas time.
We have allowed for far to many years a absence of the focus solely on CHRIST of CHRISTmas

On the "EVE" we have always done the nativity play, but on the morn what they have witnessed is a rushed Mother who begs for everyone to wait for me so I can witness the gifts being opened. Those gifts being opened being the sole focus as they arise and as the grandparents arrive. This year we desire a bit of character training for them that will help them to focus less on greed and more on gratitude.
Less on the gifts and more on those who are offering them a gift.
We are having a Birthday Party for breakfast and a hunt for the baby Jesus (from the nativity ) first.
Daddy Man and I can breath while the hunt goes on, then after we celebrate the "gift of Christ" we will settle down and open our gifts to each other in remembrance of the example of giving that Jesus set for us..


Gifts are in remembrance of what we were given that morning when Christ was born.
Then Daddy Man as the Leader of our home will read the Christmas Story aloud.

In acknowledgment of that, I will be making a
"Jesus Cake".

In the pantry I have the fixings for a cherry chip cake.
Dash had desired a cherry chip on his adoption day.
The center will have a layer with cherry preserves.
Ya...sorta weird if the thought of the blood that was shed for us is considered .
I do not believe in accidents :)
SOoooo.....
"Jesus Cake"
I read one of your blogs where ...
You hide the Baby from the manger then play a game of hunt for it from clues.
I loved that idea!
I think it is brilliant to give them a memory of "HUNTING FOR THE JESUS"
There well could be a day when as a parent we long for them to do so.
(Sorry I do not recall who it was pipe in if it was your post please so others can read it.)
We are changing...Folks it is never too late.
Dash and I spoke of whether to use the "Lamb" cake pan or the "Cross"...
We talked of the "Lamb" of God.
Dash could not understand a Lamb?
So I told him of the Law in the Old Testament, he was awed.

WE are the REASON FOR THE BIRTH OF CHRIST!
He Came For US!
He was born to live and die and be resurrected for US!

We are the reason,
gratitude is too small a price.
Give Him our all.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Please pray

Dash is still fighting out night sweats/feavers
If it does not change tonight he will need to go in for blood work as it could be the thyroid .

Please also pray for my neighbors Pat and Paul.
Paul is suffering increasing dementia, Pat is exhausted.

Menu Plan Monday


Merry
CHRISTmas
2008


It is time to learn how to bake my own bread!

and fix my tree skirt :)

Credit card debt free!

2008
Our gift to Our family
goal met...
Credit card debt free!

NO MORE CREDIT CARDS FOR US

Oh Christmas Tree-House, and cookies

"They had a dream...


We had a vision

Up from the ashes of a forest burn...

A Christmas Tree-House frame

Building a foundation is important to any home...
Strength and stability a must...

The joy of a sure foundation...
Freedom that it offers and excitement over the future.

They had a dream , it will turn a vision into a
Christmas Tree-House..

Pilot drilling to keep us all from splitting at our base.
He recesses the lag bots.


The base is formed with beauty at this Leaders hand.
He who depends upon the wisdom of a Master design.

While in the warmth of a Mothers hand we create a cord of memory to fasten the hatches for any storm.

The boys work on the structure Daddy and Son.

Equipt to build a memory.

This is the first framing...

True to level...


Now for Mother and Son while Father has daughter a while.

Dove comes to decorate when her batch is full.
The then had her prize and was off.
I finished decoration for her.

Cookies for a cookie's sake

He is making a pleasant time of it.
"I am enjoying a creation for creation sake"...said Dash
A plate for Santa...
Dove gives Santa her worst cookie for she has no consideration for him he is fiction...
Dash make his effort constrained and detailed to be the perfect of form.

Family.
Each has a gift to offer,
Each had a need to fill.

Each has the love toward one another.

games for Christmas




You Are Dependable and Trustworthy



You approach the holidays with drive and determination.

You're usually the one who does all of the organizing and work.



You love being in charge of Christmas dinner, decorating the tree, and picking out presents.

You know that everything will be perfect, as long as you're the one behind the wheel.



Of all the types, you're the most likely to search far and wide to find the best deal on the gifts you give.

You're also the most likely to have a very detailed system for how you wrap and label presents.

The Wrapping Paper Test





Your Christmas is Most Like: Miracle on 34th Street



Sweet and caring, Christmas is about helping for you.

While Santa may not exist, you try to share his spirit.

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?




Your Christmas is Modern



Your wish for the New Year is more happiness.



For you, Christmas is a spiritual holiday. You can't separate it from your beliefs.



You are patient when it comes to Christmas. You don't celebrate too early, and you don't like seeing holiday decorations in October.



You like Christmas traditions, but you're not uptight about them. You do things your way.



You like to celebrate Christmas your own way, and you don't like to have to compromise.



You enjoy Christmas more than anyone you know. Some might call it an obsession!



You give a big during the holidays but nowhere near as much as you'd like to.

What Does Your Christmas Say About You?




You Are Hot Chocolate



Your holiday personality is generous.

The holidays are your favorite time to practice the art of giving.



You enjoy picking out presents, sharing treats, and making everyone's day a little brighter.

And you don't even notice if you don't get anything in return.

What Holiday Drink Are You?




You Can Say "Merry Christmas" in 7 Languages



You can say "Merry Christmas" in:



English

Spanish

Japanese

German

Italian

Swedish

Esperanto

How Many Languages Can You Say "Merry Christmas" In?




Having Too Much To Do Is What Stresses You Out About the Holidays



You love the holidays. You love them so much that you end up taking on too many responsibilities.

Your heart is in the right place, but you don't have the time to get it all done.



Consider doing a little less. Don't bake that last batch of cookies or go for that Christmas Eve shopping run.

You'll still be giving the people you love what they want most... time with you!



Have a little silly fun


Older women likewise teach the younger women...

• how to love their husbands
• how to love their children
• how to be self-controlled
• how to be pure
• how to be keepers at home
• how to be kind and submissive (not subservient) to their own husbands. (See Titus 2:3-5)

Blog Archive

By Maya Angelou

'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ
That a man should have to seek Him first to find her.'

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean living,'
I'm whispering 'I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven.'

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say.. 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain...
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow!

Words have power. Here are a few of my favorite sayings.

  • A warm cup of tea is like a cuddle with a friend.
  • The North American Indians have a more eloquent word for ‘friend’ than we do in English. In their language, the word for friend literally means, “the one who carries my sorrows on his back.”
  • Return with Honor
  • The sage anticipates things that are difficult while they are easy, and does things that would become great while they are small. All difficult things in the world are sure to arise from a previous state in which they were easy, and all great things from one in which they were small. Therefore the sage, while he never does what is great, is able on that account to accomplish the greatest things."
  • "HOME IS WHERE YOUR STORY BEGINS"
  • “Live so that when your children hear these words they think of you… Fairness Caring Integrity Honesty Love Trust.”
  • "O Lord help my words to be gracious and tender today, for tomarrow I may have to eat them."
  • "No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes"
To The Ends Of The Earth
Sisters by Heart

Click here for all crafts

e patterns My sister told me of this site

Please pray for her parents and family

Please pray for her parents and family
Amy has clicked her heals and flown to her real home. There is no place like home.




This was given to me for the third time in just a few weeks.

Zephaniah 3:17 NLT
"For the LORD your God has arrived to live among you. He is a mighty savior. He will rejoice over you with great gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will exult over you by singing a happy song."

Thank You Ross

Getting to know Me

What warm hearts you all offer

Thank you all for the kindness you have shown me with every Award. I am embraced. You Are a blessing.

Thank you Michelle

Thank you Michelle








































Thank you Annette they are beautiful
Thank You Annette
neno award from Kat


Autism Awareness