Dognostic first thing tomorrow

We will be meting with the Neurological Psychologist in the morning. She will have me do a few more tasks. Then she will be presenting her findings.
On Thursday I will have the compilation of results with the Neurologist who has all of the findings together.
I know I am still me. I need to still my soul in silence and listen for His word.

Day Hike To Hidden Vally

Today while tending chores the kids and Mr Daddy Man had set up a hike with a good friend and the kids are all buddies too.
The wives often stay at home.
This day was different my girl friend was to attend the hike too.
While Daddy Man took a kid (who had slept over ) home I made the lunches and finished my kitchen work.
I did not want to just stay home.
The concern was there would be issue with my ability to make it to the destination.
I got mad! Took a preemptive pain pill and got dressed!
Determined to do it , I did!
This is a rest point on the main trail.
We locked up the bikes, they came along for the way home.
We left them at half way mark.

Secured the bikes with a cable.
The kids and the men went on ahead and she and I walked at our own speed.
It was a hard trail. Very steep and rocky two mile up and in.
On the way in, I thought the kids were doing a coyote call to me and so I replied...
Then came back the call in kind.
We crested the switch back and a man pointed out a coyote! He said that there was another one coming from our direction. I had to laugh IT WAS ME!

The kids came back to meet us once we caught up to them.

We made it!
two miles in.

The prize!

It was beautiful!
The stone was ice cold!
The day was hot low 80's, the slight overcast kept mercy on us as it came and went all day.

It was so cool inside here.
Above my head was this massive stone as the roof.

Is this just so amazing!

We rested here and turned back. It was three in the afternoon with a two mile hike down hill back. I took another pain pill and headed back.
Now down hill may sound easy do not be fooled!
It was very hard to climb down tall stair step stones and slick shale.
Steve gave me his arm

The kids were being kids , and I a mom, get off those boulders!
Hay, get them down off that!

The hike was slow and very very painful but I DID IT!
I cowboy'ed up and just LIVED!
Had to, Just had too.
I am resting a bit sore , but fine.
ALIVE!
Full of vitality and sass.

It was a beautiful day today.

The One Word Game

The One Word Game - snagged from Denise
It's harder than you think. Here is what you are supposed to do - copy and paste into your own note, type in your one word answers.

Where is your cell phone? purse
your hair? treasured
your father? God
your mother? died
Your favorite thing? beauty
your dream last night? busy
your favorite drink? lemonaide
your dream/goal? freedom
the room you are in? studio
your fear? danger
where do you want to be in 6 years? present
muffins? nope
one of your wish list items? character
where you grew up? prayer
the last thing you did? thought
what are you wearing? T-Shirt&Jeans
your tv? silent
your computer? compels
your life? gifted
your mood? rebellious
missing someone? Nathaniel
your car? His
favorite store? pantry
your summer? hot
your favorite color? Purple
when is the last time you laughed? reading
last time you cried? cathartic
three people who email me? Denise, Susie, Annette
three of my favorite foods? real, fresh and homemade
three places I would rather be right now? bed, forest, Bliss

play along if you desire. Please, leave me a comment, so I can come read your responses. Have fun!

Frugal Grocery Shopping

Well Hello all...
If you recall on my day off last Thursday...
I tinkered with the shopping list.
Knowing that the month was coming to an end as was the store house of stock.
We have been using it up seance December.
Well the time has come to tend to the store house. We stock pile.
That is we purchase a lot of what we commonly use when it is on a reduced lead in add.
See the adds on the table. Each week those are scoured to see if anything is applicable to our needs.
I am a picky shopper. We avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup when we are able.
By looking on the selections if I have to buy the item with it in it I will compare Look for it at the end of the ingredient list rather than at the beginning.
Those things that come first on the list have a greater percentage of it in it.

Anyway ...I then make my list coding the stores that have what I need.
The list is a running list that is kept up on the big board.
Then I look to see if I have any coupons for those items...when they match the lead ins I will then get an even greater savings!

I was in need of pantry stock and meat this time.
I found those lead ins that I use.
Buying Bottom Round and grinding it, by buying the very largest roasts (ask the butcher if he can get some before they cut it down. If your sweet about it they will clean it well and low Grissel) One roast = one cow! When you purchase ground beef it is all the scrap of several cow. Now days it comes ground from the slaughter house and has well over 200 cow represented in a few pounds of it. YUCK! can you say E Coli!
Bottom round makes great 90% lean ground beef ($9.99 per pound), steak, stew cubes, stir fry and so many other high cost cuts.
In that case the saving just keeps growing it was $4.49-$5.79 per pound
I got all the meat for $1.87 and $1.88 per pound
Each of the two roast I purchaced were 15 pounds or so each common size for a large one.
Shop for London Broil and thin slice it, or grind it to add to the Bottom Round. We broil ours and then use the left over for many different types of dishes.

(The meat savings *per high cost cuts*could easily raise that total to $800. in savings for $344. spent.

Girls that is up to $1145. worth for $ 345. ,

as you can see for two hours work I made off with a big cash savings.
I do have another three hours labor to tend to the meat grinding and such.
Now some folk pay for a service to get the match on the coupons and items.
I paid no one the privileged to save
on my shopping bill.
By only doing this with your own favorite items you will not need to have all that news paper around.
The folks give us the inserts in the papers the subscribe too and so they have a part in this provision for their grand kids too.
Thank you folks.

lots of stuff is hidden on that top shelf :)
Kids wont eat it if I hide it.
Jars filled and storage of any and all grains up high. All dates are kept in mind so check them when your purchase is loaded into your cart.

That is two bottom rounds and 4 lg London broils in the bottom of the garage refer.
The sweet butcher gave me two two packs of LB when your only allowed two items at the special. It is all in the approach. I greeted them cheerfully and acknowledge their trade and skill with compliment. Asked and then I received.
In the bags middle shelf was free from the green grocer (produce guy) that is some of what they grind and dispose of in a half day at a large grocery store. It thrills them to see it go to use for the chickens.

Many things yet to be organized and sorted.
I got home at 11:30 p.m. and just tossed it all where it needed to be.
The pantry was loaded and jars filled this morning.
Steve made it for me to sleep in and rest up.

We are so blessed.
Three months and up to six months of some things attained.
Stock pile half done. This is how to shop for greatest savings.
A deep freezer is your greatest home investment. First thing you should be buying! Not a TV.
This will help you save up for that TV in short order.
Buying in bulk is a great way to stretch your dollar.

Lemons were $.89 each! at the store.
I have juicing to do.
These were a gift.
Ask.

Three things I love

Three Things I Love about My Husband (wife, boyfriend/girlfriend):

1. He is a man of honor and valor
   
2. He lives his life to show me love.
   

   1. He is a wonderful father, and a great co-parent.
      

Three Things I Love in a Friend:
1. Honesty, true faced.
2. Character that keeps my trek with them secure.
3. Growth gaining understanding, knowledge and practicing wisdom.

Three Things I Love in a Book:

1. information
2. clear directions
   
3. Photographs of nature both flora and flawna.
   

Three Things I Love in a Movie:

1. Lives of integrity
   
2. An inspiring lesson
   
3. beautiful scenery
   

Three Things I Love to Eat:

1. organic produce
   
2. home ground meat
   
3. homemade soy yogurt
   

Three Things I Love to Do:

1. bead
2. blog
3. cuddle my kids
   

Three Things I Love to Watch:

1. children when they gain new understanding, the wonder and thrill of it in their eyes.
   
2. birds at the feeders
3. I love to lay on my back in the forest and watch the trees dance.
   

Three Things I'd Love to Happen:

1. Holiday with my family
   
2. Pay off the house and be totally debt free.
   
3. My son to never go blind or deaf.
   

Up date on Laundry soap...

I love it! Laundry comes out clean and soft.
No need for a fabric softener.
It was so easy to make.


Laundry Soap a 1/2 cent per oz

Grow your own food!

This article makes me stop and think...
it is time we all plant a Garden

Homemaking

Its just now 11a.m here and I have just caught up enough to say hi!
Wow take a day off around here and yee haw but how much you have to do in a rush the next day!
So the soaking is in the garden trench and the timer on . dogs and chickens feed and the coop tended a bit.
Shopping list is half met with the coupons still got that to do. RX are called to two different places (one of them crediting me $30. for a rx that was suppose to be for 3 months expired in one months time) and the timer on the water in the garden just went off......and does so every 10 minuets for I am now water trench style.

Well I am having to go get Orange juice for Steve and feed for the birds. The produce guy is going to have some scrap for the birds around noon. I just did not want to get back on the ride this morning.
Matching the list with the lead ins and coupons.
I know that there are services to do this for a fee. I rather not pay the fee to get free products that they hope you get hooked on for "free". Well I shop for very specific things and with a dairy allergy it is not a good deal for us to do.
I just keep an eye out for lead ins and for coupons to go with them if I have them. I save only coupons for things that I would buy or consider buying.

Dash and I worked on his birthday order this morning and almost ran the whole morning into the ground. Poor Dove had 15 minutes to be up and out the door.
I was stunned at the speed that she made at it and did it!
I'll have Dash's bday party on the 7th and am trying to get the invites to his school before days end so he can pass them out.
This morning we found the perfect sports card in my card box.
I often pick things up on clearance and so I did these however I forgot all about it.
There they were! It is so cool when those things work out.
The perfect cards!
Only God knew what the boy would require/desire.
I think I picked those up like two years ago and they have just been in there waiting for today! The Perfect card!
Not a singular sport but a general "lets get together and have a ball" with all the types of balls on them .
Too cool!
I hope you are all doing alright.

I have been Praying for the families that have those financial stress.
The suffering of the children under that stress.
I stopped this morning in my fatigue and thought....It is hard for me and I am doing alright how hard it must be for those who can not take a break day like I had yesterday.

In James It talks about considering it all joy ...I think It gives me a good vantage of compassion to pray from.
I am not numb to the suffering of others then.
Cool how God works.

better get back to task
Break is over
Be blessed!

Thankful Thursday

Oh how wonderful...
How divine...
Slow paced morning.
A load of kitchen whites, and the aprons next..now they await me when "I" feel like it.
I might hang on the line ...or not....
Oh the delight in this cadence this time of rest. Where activity meets grace.
Where duty is kept reasonable and every moment experienced and treasured.
That is my day thus far.
Loading the dishwasher as I do...
Scubbing the sink for the pleasure of it and letting it sit to bleach out un hurried.
Even sat still and watched a half an hour of stupid TV.
Of course that was about as much as I wanted to take.
Not my cup of tea ya know.
so meandering through my home Laundry was gently (on my self) sorted and readied for the turns to come.
"Wait your turn if I choose"
I feels healing and good, right and holy.

The song over my head was loving and it has escaped me.
Resting and restoring my strength today.
What a wonderful privilege.
Dash has his 8th birthday soon.
Tinkering with ideas.
He desires a trophy.

shopping list completed.
We do end month budget wrap up tomorrow night.
I so hope we held in the goal.

Only got one egg...
The girls have these dung that look like ill formed eggs perhaps white on one part. I am somewhat concerned about them.

So Far...

The day started off with a bang, or should I Say Shatter...
The kids were great! We were dressed, packs with lunches and blankets pillows and coats, waters coffee and a breakfast cookie for me on the road.
Then after the third time I had to run in for just one more thing...
When dove slammed that door just one more time the glass (I know I knew better) saucer that had her bread and nut butter on it slid right off the hood.
Shatter!
I then ran in for the fouth time and grabbed a napkin checked the bread and it passed the no glass 10 second rule That I heard some Moms tell ablut :)
We were off!

No Surgery! for Dash!
another 5 month check and see.

He was fitted and molded for new molds for the hearing aides and we were off to sit in Obama traffic.
Yes I followed Obomas' motorcade home!
Yep! the tunnel 15 minuets!

Once I got close to home I used my "Wonder MOM" powers and used my short cut.
I used the street that happened to be the alternate street that he actually used. Cops on corner. I drove into the school 5 minutes after he drove down the street.

Dash to find out if he needs surgery in the morning

I have to leave here at 7 a.m. to take Dash to the city to St Joe Clinic. He has to find out if he needs surgery , he will also be getting new hearing aide molds. I'll take both the kids with me so Steve misses no work.
Then I will take the kids back to school and do my service in Doves' room 10-noon.
Then I need to head on over at 1p.m. to do our Mom's in Touch our intercessory prayer fellowship for our elementary school.
The kids get out a bit early on Wednesdays so I'll have time to get home then at 4p.m. our financial advisory is coming to look at what is left of our retirement.
At 7p.m. I have a session to earn $65. in a consumer consultation with a research firm. I am doing a study on carpet cleaners.
Five appointments in one very hectic day. A very long early morning drive 40 mile round trip.
service work, prayer, finance and employment all in a very full day.
Needless to say the lunches must be quickly made in the morning and sleepy kids loaded into a rig. With blanket fully dressed and fed on the road?
I need to eat too.
Wow, I had a full day today too. It is truly amazing what I am made able to do.
Almost 9 p.m. now so I'll sign off pretty soon and shower and do all the prep work. I have to find two documets to take with me in the morning. I have to do the financial review for qualifying in the morning at the hospital. I know already that our status has changed from zero out of pocket to 100% out of pocket, after insurance is billed I will then be billed a reduced medicar rate for all and any copays and all or any over an above or not covered. Insurance does not cover hearing aides for kids. So Peace be with me....
:) Finacaial at 7:30 a.m. and two kids who would rather be any where else! Oh how I hope Dash does not pull the attitude he did on me last time!

By the way President Oboma will be at the high school one block from our MIT meeting and 1/8 th mile from the elementary school.
Think traffic might be a challenge:)

I will overcome for He will cause me to be able.
The reward of a job at the nights end to help with budget is truly a gift.
$65 for 1 1/2 hours of giving my opinion. I can deal with that.
I will not be getting home until 10 p.m. by the drives end.
YEE HAW

Don't mind your prayer just one bit
:)
Please.

Tackle it Tuesday

Full day here beginning at 3a.m.
Dove is coughing and so I awoke to tend to her.

At 5:30 a.m. the dogs needed out.
It is raining gently so I donned my coat and garden boots and covered the coop.

I sit here in the silence and check up on some of you. Wanting so much to comfort the hurting friends that I love. Words are so dull and empty when wounds are deep and gaping.
So I will Pray.
Job one.

There will be lunches to make soon and children to feed and dress and usher off to school.
Bible study is iffy this morning for I am very wherry of bone, and need to take a paced day.

At mid day there is the Art Masters presentations. Throughout the afternoon. Dove has student council, so I will be hanging out at the school.
Keeping Dash interested until she is done.
Alone time with the kids.
I will need to be still inside to hear his heart and be present for him.


.....Now with Steve off and we prayed for a dear friend suffering through a divorce. We are praying for you...We love you so very dearly.

We both seance an unrest...
an unrest in the world at large. Pains of the consequences of error.
Debt and greed.
Economy stressing all over the globe.
Lives in the balance.
Fear and trembling all over the globe.

Job One...Makes every thing else pale this early morning.

Feeding the lives of chickens and dogs,
children and myself.
Getting ready and walking around the block and getting on the exercise bike.
Juicing the Lemons given to use by a neighbor
simple syrup to make
Lemon aide for the school day's end.
A meal to prepare.

The garden has been watered for me today :)

Menu Plan Monday

In the blender I made spaghetti sauce with herbs
Italian seasons
clove
cinnamon,
crushed tomato and onions (dried).
It will mull for a few days for flavor.

In the blender
3 cans of pinto (drain and rinse the beans well)
4 tbsp of melted butter (in the micro)
1- 8 oz can tomato sauce
1/3 c taco sauce
cumin
cayenne
and a bit of water.
This is a staple at my house it is made every week.
As is rice to go with it, made out of whatever broth at hand to make a rich flavored mix.

Bread for the lunches...

I left this to rise and went out to plant the peas and carrot seeds that soaked overnight.
Steve sent Dash out to tell me my dough was huge!

first rise!

set the four loafs

It came out of the oven just as I was heating a sliced chicken and the roasted garlic and potato done earlier today.
These are so good!
My big 10 pound bag had a few bad spuds, very upsetting!
So I went through them to confirm them decided to roast up half of them with a whole lot of garlic in olive oil.

These little gems...
pop the garlic out and it is the perfect spread.
The garlic mellows and gets a nutty taste.
An old man who was my neighbor in our former home, taught me this.
He was a Italian Immigrant first generation.
What a garden he had in his yard.
A simple yard but not a corner un planted with foods.

I sliced up the bread and put it in a rubber maid keeper instead of a plastic bag.
Home baked bread is tender. I find it broken often in a baggie when the kids get into it. this will keep it better.

Hike to South Mnt. Hidden Valley

Saturday we all took a Valentine's day Hike

It was a beautiful day. Perfect weather.

This was the "HOUSE" rock as the kids named it.

Then the children and Daddy Man hike a rock out crop.
I think I would of freaked out if I knew what the top of that was like.
Daddy did at one point and called them down.
Several kids were up there unattended.
They are looking down at me sitting on that wall.

The view was spectacular!

Dash was being too careless so Steve got them down.
He was too fearless on the top.
There is a gift of wisdom in fear.

Remember now he was up there with ours.

Tired and the day was getting mid afternoon we hiked out.

I thought this tree was so beautiful.
Laid down dead, yet living.
The old passing away and the living thriving.