Friday, June 4, 2010

The library

The library Is the perfect place to visit for us.
Our young ones are veracious readers

Dove had several books placed on hold.
Nothing was found and as hard as she searched no avail.
I then asked the librarian in regards to the books of her interest if she had any suggestions.

She showed us the young adult readers sections.
Although Dove is 12 she reads very well. Poor thing does not spell well but when it comes to the spoken word she can read aloud with the best of them.

Dash found books of his interests. Ones he actually has been looking forward too.
He at 9 looks forward to reading!
Love it!
For those of you who do not know...we have read to them every day of our lives together.

Of course me...beading books :)

The best of all.
They each got their own very first library card!

Oh The Magic Box

Our day today at Arizona State University

Some time back Dash was privileged to take Part in a research study on hearing impaired children s hearing aids to better create aides fitted for class room environments and needs.

We were called to have Dove join the study as a control participant.
She earned the same as he did when he did it. 
$30.

We had free VIP parking so...
What better way to expose them to a university then to have an adventure.

We walked over to the fine arts section.
The children saw some dancers at practice.
The felt the class area of a university building.


we then toured the museum
it was free and wide open to the public
we and perhaps 5 other people it was very nice


Photos were discouraged.
We spoke of the mediums used the techniques and the use of culture.
I asked them what the message was that the artist was trying to get across.
The exhibit is on transportation.
Many oils, pen and ink, acrylics even ceramics.

At the end and on the way home we spoke of grants for costs and the difference of college and university. Oh character and dreams. Setting the mind early to consider the goals they might light in the lives they will have to live out. We spoke about the efforts Daddy Man and I are taking in saving for their education. Spoke of cost and benefit and loss in a job market that many graduates are finding no employment. How they MUST simply pursue what the heart leads them into. To Love what ever it is they do.

Then as we were so relaxed in conversation I asked them what they liked best.
It will be that Dove wants to oil paint as her Grandmother does (realism)
Dash wants to use acrylic and splash chunks of paint onto a canvas.

Oh The Magic Box

Better burgers (Butter Burgers)

Out of one Large Rump roast (when they are on sale as a lead in add)
$1.79 Pound
Grind once then a second grind on smaller disk.
Use a paper towel to contain any blood (safe meat handling is really important for health.

Add eggs. Here three pound I guess and about 6 of my hens eggs or say 3 of your large ones.
1/2 tablespoon seasoning
Give her a spin till well incorporated.

Now this is a VERY lean beef.
ONE COW ONE

Store bought has up to 350 cow represented in the scrap they grind up and sell high end.


After all the grinding tools are set over to soak.
I cover a scale in wax paper and set 1/4 pound patties aside to chill well.
That too is an important part Keep the meat COLD!

After the burger is half cooked turn and cook well.
(WE USE NO RAW MEAT!)
Scrape any juice aside.
Now then when all ready melt ya some butter and toast the buns in it.
Once toasted set aside on edge of pan.
Lay the burgers out again and add a slice of cheese if you like
Oh baby!
the kids each ate TWO!
Now the left over was heated up in the microwave and served soft bun style for their lunches today.
Left overs are a wonderful summer tool so more fun time can be had.

If you have a grill remember these are VERY lean (the egg is your binder)burgers! 
Do not over cook.

Deep Freezer Care in the dead of Summer

Empty space in your deep freezer is a waste of utility and the freezer life span.
We have three freezers on property. The kitchen, the deep freezer in the garage, as well as a refrigerator/freezer (an old side by side) also in the garage.

Keep the unused space filled with ice.
Camping season is now upon us. 
By useing zip bags of water we will have not only ice for this freezer but also for the ice chest when a trip calls for it.
It will be in block style and that is a long lasting cold.
Additionally it supplies extra water for use while up in the mountains.

So when your space is open and not intended to be filled soon, fill a bag up to freeze.
We also use old juice paper cartons, soy milk (the red square box)paper cartons too. Cubes and squares are best to utilize the space more efficiently.

Any empty space should be considered a waste.

When the monsoons hit (or even you folks in the deep winters) keep your food investments safe.
When times are tight this is also a way to use up the utility wisely.
It is far cheaper to cool a full freezer
 I use the old metal bowl to haul it.

p.s. empty the air out of the bags or it will pop when the water expands

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Thankful Thursday



Iris @ Grace Alone is hosting Thankful Thursday today :)
No more braces!
How merciful is the Creator of this child. She NEVER had one issue in the entire time!
Her smile is so bright now.
So amazing the ease of it, and yesterday we took her to have her teeth cleaned too...
NO CAVITIES! after 18 months of braces!
It is a wonderful wonderful thing to behold. It was like the first day of kindergarten I cried.
What an honor and privilege to be able to give this to her.
Thankful? Oh so very! She did so well yesterday. Growing up the 13th birthday only a month away.
She has on a home made night gown that I made at least 15 years ago.
OH a daughter...my daughter. The days are so sweet seeing her grow. 
She has been grounded every since the last day of school and she is doing well with it.

Last night we all had a fun time at the kitchen table. Dash had a Lego man and somehow we all started up a impromptu game of "flick the Lego" across the table like table top football.
It was a blast! When it was my first turn some how I flicked that little thing dead center of Doves forehead. I laughed so hard my ribs hurt. Started me when they did. It was so good to laugh!
I really really hit a funny bone. Just could not hold it back. We all laughed they were laughing at me laugh. Then I looked over at my sweet son and he was crying. He was in pain. Three cavities filled and a swollen lip too. Sweet baby slept on the sofa. He is still there now.

Around the time Dash was born, before I even knew he could be my son there was a choice. We had started and stopped his adoption. The process caught us right in the middle of mass lay offs at Daddy mans employ. After working at the same company for over 25 years we faced unemployment for the first time in his life. 
I was at the dentist where she was telling me I needed to pull two teeth and get braces for my bottom teeth. They were sliding forward as well as the top teeth. I thought it over and refused because I had a son in my heart. Soon after we reopened the process to get our boy . We were matched and soon (well it was really months and months later) we were on the way to Russia to get him.
Now this day, today I wept with joy and gratitude as we were able to see the fruit of all of the mercy and ability...
My girl has the most beautiful teeth.
She had surgery for a supper numerary tooth. It was an adult size tooth that grew in her upper palate right toward the front teeth. She also had a second surgery to remove 4 teeth to fix the damage.

Now she will have the most wonderful grin. Even these years later Daddy Man misses her toothy grin.
Dove is so beautiful and NO CAVITIES!
Oh the hours Daddy Man spent with her at night tending to her teeth while I tended to dinner dishes and chores. WOW!
We just paid them off in full last month.
I am in a depth of gratitude that HE made us able to do this for her.



Ears of corn-on-the-cob... complete with corn shaped plates and 
corn cob holders.
Oh yes we had corn on the cob.
We stopped and got her a pack of Gum (sugar free of course)

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

A memerable weekend

There was fun to be had Friday when a little buddy came to spend the night. There was glee and delight to find the big fort in the dining room all full of stuffed critters and blankets.
They were all very tired the next morn. But with the energy of a child found my wagon a great toy. Loading up stuffed critters and rocks made way up and down the side walk out front.

In came Dove in a panic with a dove. "mom I know best things wild best left wild, but it needs your help!" We tried to see if it was choking but it was not and by and by we had her let it go. It sat on my car a while and them flew up to the roof. We have a lot of wild life here because we make a place for them. The kids know that it is wise to let them be. This time it is the lesson of passage with dignity that was taught well to Dove over the dove.
We had a family meeting to cover the calendar of events to come before the next camp trip, the first of the summer. We showed them that 4 trips total. Two longer trips and two shorter trips. In order to Pull it off what needed to be done. We opened up for every ones opinion. The kids were made to matter and pulled out to get them to give ideas of what they would like to see and or not have . One trip they can bring a kid with, and the next trip the other kid could choose a friend to come. We only have one open seat in the truck to take a kid. So now we can set arrangements, invitations, ask for help with the animals while we are gone. We will all have our ideas matter, for this is FAMILY vacation. FAMILY opinions matter. In budget we have set aside gas budget and used the vacation budget to get new sleeping bags for each of us this weekend. We also got chairs for every one has broken except one. It is time. The bags we were using were 25+yrs old and showed it.
Speaking of showing wear the canopy cover zipper gave out last year and we just made it home on the freeway with it like this. It was un nerving.
So we went to a place called Tempe Sales. For $70 I was able to get the marine vinyl and the zipper, pulls and thread to sew this up


The old one had to be disassembled a big dusty job!
I started this on Saturday and by Monday night had it to a good point.
I was able to sew it on the pfaff tank up until the last part. The machine just can not do the rubber to the vinyl

After a hard lesson learned it was discoverd that a size 20 was way too much!
So a 14 leather needle (they have swords for edges) and regular polyester thread. 
Four passes and then a top stitch for the zipper to be in place and strong!
repeated to the other half.
After final top stitch it is a strong hold and I was to tired to continue...
So a splurge of macoroni and cheese, while it baked a garden raid. Look at what I found!
Rather had fun at it too.
The cheese gave me a bit of a hard time but after recently learning it was not an "allergy" but a sensitivity I relaxed a bit in it's use. Almost 50 years old and I just made it for the first time. Using soy milk bad it alright. I am not to use any milk that is close to the base (milk) buy use hard cheese and the like. No cottage or soft cheese. OH it was so good with the fresh veggies.
We like our veggies raw.
due to the challenges of this thing!
Sleep is still unfriendly. 
I awake choking and pull it off in my sleep. We are still tinkering. I wonder if the cheese may cause too much drainage and that might be causing the choking. 
Now non the less last night an utter frenzy of exasperation all but sent me over the edge!
Steve and I came out to children who were wide awake and activly wantintg to be independant and cook for themself. 
Sounds wonderful and terrifying in one breath.
We were doing budget review so we are both just right on track of where we set.
Wow that is soo good to be on the same page. No bad guy saying NO sorry can't do it or have it.
We are staying debt free baby!
Showed the kids basic budgeting and the thing that happened was so cool.
It was so cool Friday, I brought the kids in and reviewed what keeping a budget was all about. At one point Dove said"what! no cloths money to get new clothes. " I showed her that after school begins she will have some . To that I told them if there is something your wanting you'll need to ask God about making a way.
The very day two hours later a girl friend called. She wanted to know if she could stop by the house because her daughter had gone through her closet and had somethings to pass over to Dove if she wanted them....perfect witness and timing for my kid to have. Cute things too. Two boxes of things in nice condition.
cheesy eggs 10 cent a sample so Steve and I each had a plate. They were so good!
So Steve and I are working and Dove wants to bake a cake....After a bit of being nosed into the affair, I stepped back. She did it she made a cake. This is at days end how I found it.

Well the canopy cover called us into the garage for Steve had to hold all 12 feet of this while we ran it threw the machine three times. The last of the job is by hand. That 12 foot length of rubber to be sewn on by hand! YEP by hand.
Steve used the drill press and pierced the rubber for me and the pliers get needle all the way threw
Long hard job for me to get done this week.

A new canopy would start at $300. not near the canopy quality we have, well especially now.

We had a pizza splurge for supper.
It was our big splurge for the memorable weekend.

As I tired as a stone showered my darling caught us up on the dishes.
And sew I sew 
The rubber onto the canopy

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Having a daughter

She is tender with a heart of compasion
gentle with thoughts caring
funny wide smiling laughter she is wise child of vision
she is my daughter.

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