Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Come and Get it!

This weeks menu:

Monday
Breakfast - Toast & cheese
Supper - Chicken, broccoli, tater tots



Tuesday
Breakfast - Toast & Applesauce
Supper - Black Bean Soup


Wednesday
Breakfast - Bacon & Potatoes
Supper - Sloppy Joes & Home Fries


Thursday
Breakfast - Pancakes
Supper - Salads


Friday
Breakfast - Eggs & Toast
Supper - Pork & TBD 


This week is a weird one. 
A lot of guessing here but this gives me a guideline.
Saturday we'll be having Good Ole Boys amazing meatballs so everything else pales in light of them, lol. 


What's on your menu this week?

COUNTRY GIRL

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Pumpkin Soup

In this weeks menu, I told you I was going to make a modified version of the squash soup I found at  

I'd never visited there before, 
I simply found them by a swagbuck search for soup with some ingredients I had on hand.

It was good.
Really good.
Here's what I did.
I melted some butter in a pan. 
They called for 1/4 cup but I just guessed.
(ok, I do that alot 
- probably do to laziness and not wanting to dirty another item....)
I added two tubs of pumpkin.
(These are the Hillshire Farm/Glad lunchmeat tubs.
And then a tub of diced tomatoes.

Amazingly, I DID have a can of coconut milk in the pantry.
Why, I have NO idea! lol
So that was added next.

Then I added some water and some Chicken Better than Bouillon.

I threw in some diced garlic,
and an onion.  

I often don't add salt and pepper
(well sometimes the pepper I do...)  
WHILE I'm cooking - 
I have a few here that add tons of salt before they even taste it (drives me NUTS)
so I just leave that up to the individual.

I had Good Ole Boy stop on his way home for some kielbasa
He brought home both a regular one and a cheesy one.
So we sliced that up.

It made the soup REALLY CHEESY!

We simmered it for about a half hour or so.

Then served it up with some homemade bread.

It was SO good!
And we aren't even big pumpkin lovers!

Let me know if you try it and what you think.

COUNTRY GIRL
 

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Voyager News - January Edition

~ ~ ~ SET SAIL FOR A LIFETIME OF LEARNING ~ ~ ~ 


After our 2 week Christmas Break, 
we began back with a new chapter.
Weaver, Vol. 5, Chapter 10
Days 1 - 7.
The Suffering Savior.
This chapter focuses on the last week of Jesus.
Our Bible lessons have been mostly in Matthew and John.
Social Studies has been in learning about the Jewish Religion.
We have discussed various festivals, worship in the temple and sacrifices.
Weaver Science has been learning about building.
Thus far we have learned about the inclined plane, levers, and the axle and wheel. 
This is important to learn, because they are taking this knowledge and then building a model of the temple. 
~Read Alouds~
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Chapters 1 - 8
Parts from The New Way Things Work by David Macaulay

In Photography, we've learned about Dorothea Lang, Matthew Brady (VERY important name as we are involved with Civil War reenactments! lol), Ansel Adams, and Edward S. Curtis.
We have learned more terms and techniques such as aperture, depth of field, and rule of thirds. 
I love seeing them getting out and creative with the cameras! 
Home Ec has been going good.
We started the year by talking salad, and making many of them. 
We followed that up last week with beef stew.
 Sis has also (outside of class) made brownies and a cake, including home made icing.


We've gotten in a few lessons in Wisdom Words and I assigned a story from Story Starters for them to work on. 
In Latin we have done Chapters 11 and 12.


For Chemistry we have reviewed, played some Bingo and worked on grasping the Doo Wop Board.
We are discussing fiction in Literature.
Out of a list I provided, Sis chose to read Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens.
I've never read it so it's a good choice. 
Besides our assigned reading, we are discussing things like plot, setting and character.
Math has been going well for Hunny and Sis but Bug has began to struggle a bit. 
Those mixed numbers and division, I tell ya...


12 school days this month.
(total - 81)
COUNTRY GIRL

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

The Simple Woman's DayBook






FOR TODAY

Outside my window...It's a windy morning.

I am thinking...About how to be a better Help Meet.

I am thankful...That Einstein had school today!

In the kitchen...Coffee is on. 
Will be starting breakfast here in just a few minutes.
I've already done the few dishes that gathered since Sis did them last night. 

I am wearing...Black plaid fleece, Blue Jeans & Slippers.

I am creating...Still working on cutting scraps for rag rugs,
I've made 3 goat coats & need to make more. 

I am going...To enlarge my garden this year!

I am wondering...What God's plan is?

I am reading...The Centurions Wife
Little House on the Prairie - school
The New Way Things Work - school
Great Expectations - lit with Sis

I am hoping...God provides Good Ole Boy with a better job.

I am looking forward to...Spring.

I am learning... About real food.

Around the house...Only two kids are up, 
watching a bit of Netflix before we get moving for the day.

I am pondering... My thoughts, behavior and attitude.

A favorite quote for today..."Master Yoda is from Finland."
WHAT?! 
Ok, so I misunderstood Hunny yesterday, but I thought it was hilarious. 
She said he was from the dining room, but I heard Finland.
It was surprising because, well, really, that is not a country we have discussed much and I didn't think she even knew about it!
But then to learn she hadn't even said that 
- and it doesn't sound like dining room.... 

One of my favorite things... The happy squeals & coos of a baby.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Work, School, Basket Class, Birthday Party, Baby Bunnies?

A peek into my day...
 



COUNTRY GIRL

Monday, January 23, 2012

Come and Get it!

This weeks Menu....

Monday
Breakfast - Oatmeal, fruit, toast.
Supper - Squash Soup
Ok, yes, I wanted something different! 
Going to use a slightly modified version of this recipe 
- that I've never tried before so it will be interesting!

Tuesday
Breakfast - Eggs & Toast
Supper - Venison Roast, Potatoes, Carrots

Wednesday
Breakfast - Biscuits & Gravy
Supper - Beans & Cornbread

Thursday
Breakfast - Pancakes
Supper - Chicken Pot Pie

Friday
Breakfast - Eggs & Toast
Supper - Spaghetti & Garlic Bread




COUNTRY GIRL

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Christmas 2011

Before we get too far away, 
I wanted to share a glimpse of our Christmas.
We felt very blessed this year! 

 Hunny asked for this alpaca from Santa.
Santa brought Sis this cd.
A movie from Grandma.
She loves these!
 From my husband.
From Santa.
We had a nice holiday.
Well, there was the typical RAD problems but aside from that....
We were up super early - the kids wanted to do presents before church! 
So up early for gifts, then hustle to get ready for church.
We had a wonderful service, I really love our church.
Then off to my parents house for Christmas dinner.
It was a long day, but very enjoyable.


COUNTRY GIRL

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

The Simple Woman's DayBook







FOR TODAY

Outside my window...Yucky stuff if falling.
It looks like freezing rain?
All the area school are closed due to the weather.
Very yucky. 

I am thinking...I need to go make Breakfast but want to finish something on here first - 
why oh why is the computer so slow?! 

I am thankful...That I don't have to go anywhere today! 
That Good Ole Boy made it safely to town.
That we have food in the fridge/freezer/pantry in case we are stuck.

In the kitchen...Coffee is ready.
Cleaned the pot yesterday so it was a bit stronger than it has been!
Meat is thawing for tonight. 

I am wearing...Blue Jeans, Black Fleece Sweatshirt, Slippers.

I am creating...Rag Rugs, Goat Coats, Chicken List, Seed List....

I am going...To try and make crackers.

I am wondering...What God has in store for our family?

I am reading...The Centurions Wife
Little House on the Prairie - school
The New Way Things Work - School
Great Expectations - Lit with Sis 

I am hoping...That God provides Good Ole Boy with a better job.
Things haven't been great there lately as hours have been drastically cut. 

I am looking forward to...Good Ole Boy returning safely home tonight. 
 
I am learning...About real food and self sufficiency.

Around the house...It's decorated with Snowmen and snowflakes.

I am pondering...What chickens should I get? And how many?

A favorite quote for today...
"Don't interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties."
Abraham Lincoln 

One of my favorite things...Dreaming of summer.

A few plans for the rest of the week: School, Work, 4H Small Animal Association meeting (maybe), and Sis goes to a 4H training this weekend.

A peek into my day...





 
 
COUNTRY GIRL

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Come and Get it

~This weeks Menu~


Monday
Breakfast - Grits
Supper - Chicken, Rice, Green Beans, Bread (homemade)
4H night so quick, don't dawdle meal.


Tuesday
Breakfast - French Toast
Supper - Pork Steak, Potato (haven't decided on mashed vs baked), Mixed Veggies, Bread (homemade).


Wednesday
Breakfast - Bacon, Eggs & Toast
Supper - Girls are cooking for Home Ec
Beef Stew, *hopefully* homemade crackers, Bread (homemade - probably).


Thursday
Breakfast - Pancakes
Supper - Burritos, Homemade refried Beans, Tortilla Chips.
Easy as Good Ole Boy & I have a meeting.


Friday
Breakfast - Eggs
Supper - Stir Fry Veggies, Rice, Egg Rolls.
What are you cooking this week?


COUNTRY GIRL

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Things I've learned from Laura

Er....Almanzo?

Farmer boy
Farmer Boy was finished just before Christmas Break.
What a great book.
While not quite the same as the Ingalls tales, enjoyable nontheless.

What I've learned from Laura, er Almanzo?
*Ch. 1 School Days - "Butternut hulls had dyed the thread for his coat and his long trousers. Then mother had woven it, and she had soaked and shrunk the cloth into heavy, thick fullcloth. Not wind nor cold not even a drenching rain could go through the good fullcloth that mother made." 
So is this like felted wool? 

*Ch. 2 Winter Evening - "They did not have to make beds for the hogs, because hogs make their own beds and keep them clean."
Huh. Really? Why do we associate them as dirty then?
So much for the 'your room is a pig sty' complaint...

*Ch. 3 - Winter Night - "You can fill a glass to the brim with milk, and another glass of the same size brim full of popcorn, and then you can put all the popcorn kernel by kernel into the milk, and the milk will not run over. You can not do this with bread. Popcorn and milk are the only two things that will go into the same place."
I can so totally see a little boy Almanzos age trying this! lol.
I thought this was neat. 
Someday, maybe I'll get adventurous and try it with the kids. 
Maybe a good science experiment?

*Ch. 5 Birthday - "The cold stood steadily at forty below zero, but the sun was shining, and all afternoon Almanzo played with his sled."
Were their thermometers the same as ours?! 
We wouldn't go outside and play - especially all afternoon! - in that kind of cold! 
Are we just total whimps now? 

"Cattle did not have to be led to water. They came eagerly to the trough and drank while Almanzo pumped, then they hurried back to the warm barns, and each went to its own place. Each cow turned into her own stall and put her head between her own stanchions. They never made a mistake."
Is that normal?
Are cows really that cooperative? Easy? Smart?

*Ch. 15 Cold Snap - "He watched the moon anxiously, for in the dark of the moon in May he could stay out of school and plant pumpkins."
Is this planting by the moon?
And he seriously did that at night?

"All the corn was frozen. The little leaves were stiff, and broke if you touched them. Only cold water would save the life of the corn. Every hill must be watered before the sunshine touched it, or the little plants would die."
Interesting.

*Ch. 16 Independence Day - "This country goes three thousand miles west, now. It goes 'way out beyond Kansas, and beyond the Great American Desert, over mountains bigger than these mountains, and down to the Pacific Ocean. It's the biggest country in the world, and it was farmers who took all that country and made it America, son. Don't you ever forget that."
Wow. I think our government and all society should read that.
How are our farmers being treated today?
The farmers have made our country, and we NEED to remember that, and get back to those roots.

*Ch. 17 Summer-Time - "Father had shown him how to raise a milk-fed pumpkin. They had picked out the best vine in the field, and snipped off all the branches but one, and all the yellow pumpkin blossoms but one. Then between the root and the wee green pumpkin they carefully made a little slit on the underside of the vine. Under the slit Almanzo made a hollow in the ground and set a bowl of milk in it. Then he put a candle wick in the milk, and the end of the candle wick he put carefully into the slit...."
Bug wants to try this.
Has anyone grown a milk-fed pumpkin?
I wonder if it really works?

*Ch. 22 Fall of the Year - "Father was pleased. The soft snow was six inches deep, but the ground was not yet frozen. "Poor man's fertilizer," Father called such a snow, and he set Royal into plowing it into all the fields. It carried something from the air into the ground, that would make the crops grow."
Really?

There was alot in this book to think about.
Food, traditions, farming.
Here's a final quote to ponder:
*Ch. 29 Farmer Boy - "A farmer depends upon himself, and the land and the weather. If you're a farmer, you raise what you eat, you raise what you wear, and you keep warm with wood out of your own timber. You work hard, but you work as you please, and no man can tell you to go or come. You'll be free and independent, son, on a farm.


COUNTRY GIRL





 
 

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

The Simple Womans Dybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...It's been a beautiful day, 
it's now evening and very dark.

I am thinking... How much I dislike RAD.

I am thankful...  For my kids.

In the kitchen...Dinner put away, dishes done, 
all that's left is to feed the inside critters and set the coffee pot!

I am wearing...Blue jeans, white mock turtle neck, purple zip up hoodie, slippers.

I am creating...Goat coat and rag rug....in my free time! hahaha 

I am going...To be on top of things someday....

I am wondering...Why a RADish can't move on? 
It's been 10 years....
why does he still think she will return for him? 
Why can't he just accept us as his family? 

I am reading...The Centurion's Wife
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens - Lit with Sis
 Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder - School
 The New Way Things Work by David Macaulay - School
 

I am hoping...That god provides Good Ole Boy with a better job.

I am looking forward to...SPRING! :D

I am learning... More about Whole, Real Food.

Around the house...Einstein is hiding in his room, 
Hunny is in the shower, 
the others are watching LA Ink on Netflix.

I am pondering... Chickens, Gardening, Housekeeping, Rabbits, Goats....

A favorite quote for today...Hunny - How do you make bananas?

One of my favorite things... Hamburger...with salt and pepper...

A few plans for the rest of the week:  School, Work, Sis has basket class, Church, 4H.

A peek into my day...
A lifelong dream to see Kenny Rogers in concert was a Christmas gift from my Mother-in-Law!


COUNTRY GIRL

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Voyager News - December Edition

~ ~ ~ SET SAIL FOR A LIFETIME OF LEARNING ~ ~ ~ 

December.
Christmas.
Vacation.
Weaver, Vol. 5, Chapter 9
days 21 - 30.
Life Application of Jesus.
We finished this chapter so much of our work was wrap up.

Bible lessons have been taken from Matthew, Luke & John.

In Weaver Science we have learned about different kinds of weather, including earthquakes.

Social Studies has been preparing for certain types of weather and A LOT of map study. We played a fun game called Your America which while not covering as much geography as I originally thought it would, had a lot of information in it! 

They have had some creative writing assignments, painting/crafting time and for home ec they learned how to make french toast. 
(and then ate alot of it because Hunny then wanted to make it daily!) 


~Read Alouds~
Farmer Boy Ch.18-finish
My Side of the Mountain Ch. 15 - finish
Various Christmas stories

Photography was mostly reviewing but there were a few assignments.

We had four field trip days.
One to the woods where we wandered around and discussed evergreen trees, looked for animal tracks and wildlife and cut our Christmas Tree.
One to the Alpaca Farm for their Christmas Open House.
One outdoor homestead work day,
and one day of running scrap and visiting the Amish stores and discussing their lifestyle.
In literature, we FINALLY finished our book! 
The Wedding Dress Ch 22 - finish.

Math, reading and Latin have all gone well. 
Sis is enjoying Life of Fred and Hunny is making great progress reading.


We also did LOTS of baking/goodie making and had the cool experience of butchering and processing some roosters.

We had 17 school days this month.
(total - 69)

We are taking a two week Christmas break.

COUNTRY GIRL