Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Busy

My mom and sister came last Thursday and we have been busy having a great time together, so I won't be posting much if at all until next week. Have a great week!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Kitchen Tip Tuesday

Ground Beef
Since I work full time and don't get home until 5:30pm, I am always looking for ways to make dinner faster. I've started making something out of my ground beef as soon as I get it home from the store.
Some ideas are:
  1. Meatloaf--I usually make up three meatloafs and then freeze them. I discovered last time that I can mix up the ingredients, then divide it into three ziploc freezer bags (I used to use a TON of plastic wrap--silly me!), squish the bags into three loaf pans and freeze them in the freezer--uncooked. (You want to freeze them in the pan so the meatloaf will fit in your pan when you go to cook it.) You can take the bag out of the pan after the meatloaf has frozen. When you want to cook the meatloaf, take it out of the bag--you may need to run some hot water over it to loosen is from the bag, put it in the pan to thaw. I usually put mine in the oven on time bake in the morning with aluminum foil (sprayed with pam so it doesn't stick) and set my oven for time bake so when I walk through the door you have meatloaf ready. :o) I also usually throw in some baked potatoes to cook with the meatloaf.
  2. Make hamburgers and freeze.
  3. Cook up a lot of taco meat and freeze it in amounts for meal time.--I add lentils or black beans to increase nutrition and stretch the meat.
  4. Make up meatballs to freeze--these I cook before I freeze them. I cook them on the broiler pan in the oven. I make a double batch and there is not hardly a millimeter of space unused on my pan. I then freeze them in a ziploc bag.
  5. Cook up a bunch of the beef and leave plain to use in recipes. I have found that I can cook up enough ground beef in one skillet to divide out for three meals. I put enough water in the skillet to go about 1/2 way up on the pan, this decrease the fat content even more.
I hardly ever freeze ground beef anymore unless it has been made into something or cooked. It really doesn't take that much time, but it sure make meal prep easier! :o)

Monday, September 21, 2009

Z versus the spider

There was a spider in our bath tub. I called in Z to see if he wanted to kill it. He looked at it rather anxiously and decided he would put a small bucket over it to smother it. He grabbed the nearest bucket, then put it down. "Oh, yeah it can't have any breathing holes!" (it was a small bucket with holes in the bottom).

He then grabbed one without holes but was unable to put the bucket on top of him because the spider wouldn't stay still!

He then tried to wash the spider down the drain, but that didn't work!

Rather exhaustedly and dramatically he decided to call in the big guns and T was able to dispense with the spider.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Sorry, I couldn't let this go!

A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned to walk forward. - Franklin D. Roosevelt

This was a quote on my google home page yesterday and it REALLY annoyed me. I generally leave politics alone and don't think I've been very political on my blog.

In light of these facts:

Many families where no adult works or certainly does not work full time receive:

  • Up to $900 in food stamps.
  • Get SSI money (about $600/month) for their kids diagnosed with ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, etc.
  • Get welfare
  • Get free child care
  • Get pratically free medical, dental care, and vision care--they do have copays of a few dollars for some things

I realize that some families need this help for a short time or need it because they are truly unable to work due to serious health problems. I think we should help these people. I have issues when we this becomes their career choice and there is not effort to work and support themselves!

THEREFORE a liberal is:

  • a man with two perfectly good legs who has learned to walk , but has decided the rest of the world should carry him while he complains about how the world is not carrying him properly and giving him the shaft OR
  • a man who has decided to walk but thinks you should help those who have chosen not to walk with someone ELSE's money (someone with less money than themselves usually), NOT their money--their care and concern is usually a cover to advance some type of poilitical chicanery.

Please pardon the rant.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Think on These Things Thursday

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Matthew 11:28-29 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
It seems that life just keeps moving faster and faster and sometimes we feel we can't keep up anymore. Most of the times when we feel we can't keep up it is because we are trusting our own strength and not God's strength. How silly we are to try to do it on our own when God has offered His help. I wonder if He sees us like the little toddler trying to carry in the grocery sack that is way to heavy insisting "I can do it!" and refusing help only to tumble over with the groceries!
If our burden is heavy, we haven't given it to the Lord!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

My Bed and Breakfast Stay

The bed and breakfast I stayed in at Brainerd was adorable. It was really relaxing. I enjoyed it immensely. I spent a couple of hours sitting in a comfy rocking chair reading a book in front of a huge fireplace on the screened in porch! The only thing missing was my hubby.
Here is the porch.
Here is the entry way onto the porch where they served yummy zucchini crisp in china bowls. :o)
Here is my cabin.
Interior of the cabin.

Adorable window treatments.
They were great at using what they had, so here is an old metal spoon with a wooden handle used as a toilet paper holder. I would have never thought of that!



The food was all natural, organic and quite tasty. :o)
Anyone looking for a bed and breakfast in the Brainerd area, I highly recommend this one. You eat breakfast in a late 1800's rail car. The owners were very sweet and great to chat with.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Weekend Recap

We had a nice weekend, went to a Twins game with some friends and enjoyed visiting with them. Looking forward to maybe enjoying a major league baseball game next year when they actually play outside where baseball SHOULD be played!!! Having said that, I'm probably guaranteed to only pick days to go when it is rainy, windy, and cold. :o)

I'm proud to say I drove in the twin cities for the third time and managed not to injure anyone too badly!!! Really wish the Twins played someplace like Hinckley, though--it would be a much nicer drive!!! :o) My shoulder muscles haven't recovered from the stress of driving in the cities. Guess I'm too much of a country bumpkin!

To my friend "S" at church, I thought of another song for your mental enjoyment--"This is a song that never ends..." :o)

I'm off to Grand Rapids, Bemidji, Brainerd, and Finlayson over the next couple of days, so I won't be posting. I get to stay in a bed and breakfast in Brainerd. I'm really looking forward to it, if I have to spend the night away from home for work, might as well enjoy it. She graciously upgraded me to my very own cabin since it is a Monday night. :o) Her e-mail said, "You also have a window air conditioner, microwave, fridge/freezer, and satellite T.V. Your evening snack/dessert will be on the old stove that you will see as soon as you are on the porch. There is make-it-yourself tea and hot chocolate by the microwave as well as microwave popcorn. Purified water to prepare the tea and hot chocolate is in the porch fridge. We'll start a fire in the evening in the stone fireplace on the back porch and you can keep throwing logs onto the fire as long as you like. The wood is located in a wagon near the fireplace. Breakfast will be served at 8:30 a.m. in the railroad car tea room at the far end of the back porch. " Here's a picture of the cabin: http://www.whiteleycreek.com/queen_of_the_meadow_bloom/bb_cottages/

Friday, September 11, 2009

Think On These Things Thursday

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
In Junior Church this year, I have been going through the kings of Israel and Judah. It is amazing to me how patient God was with His children. You read of king after king who did that which was evil in the sight of God and even kings that followed God, but still allowed idol worship. God sent difficulties to get their attention, but they still continued to ignore Him. There were times of revival, but they were few and far between. There were also kings that started out serving God, only to go their own way in the end. Joash started out and served the Lord as long as his mentor, Jehoiada the priest was alive, then he turned away from God. He turned so far away that when God sent a prophet to tell him to get right with God, he killed the prophet! God dealt with him, but was a sad ending to what could have been a great life used for the Lord. Even sadder is the fact that when the kings served other gods, so did the most of the people.
I am thankful for God's patience and love for us. This also challenges me to live for the Lord and lead others to Him.
May we be able to say what King Hezekiah could say:
2Kings 20:3 I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Think on These Things Thursday

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

A Spirit of Thankfulness
1Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.


I have found that when I remember to be thankful for things, even in difficult times, it makes life much easier and more joyful. I have been trying to look for things to be thankful for and have found myself enjoying things I used to dislike. Now to remember to be thankful ALL the time!!! I really need to work on this at work. I find myself frustrated at times, but need to be looking for things to be thankful for and focus on them.