tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-179996302024-02-28T11:58:31.391-08:00A crown of JewelsJust living our life...experiencing all that God has to show us in daily living. While it may not make sense to you, it makes sense to us. Loving the simple life, whether out of necessity or by choice.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475504603108298660noreply@blogger.comBlogger370125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999630.post-44988661846489109832015-02-13T15:25:00.001-08:002015-02-13T15:31:35.397-08:00Valentine's Day Party Fun What a difference a year makes!<br />
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Every year we hold a Valentine's Day theme party at our house. This year we passed a milestone with the "little cousins" that we have over ~ we read 3 stories and we played a game! When you have a lot of little ones together, there is often no time to sit and listen to a story. It was so sweet to see them all piled up on the couch and enjoying having a silly story read out loud. Honestly, my heart felt so full!<br />
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We had 4 little boys and 2 little girls over for the cousin party. We read 3 books, then we made some Valentines, had a little snack and then played a little game with the 4 little boys. We broke our Valentine's card making record as well this year. Each child made some on their own and started to get the idea that they were to give to others, not to themselves. So fun watching their personalities shine through.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We missed the hole punch while we were baby proofing</td></tr>
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We always do a mad dash around the house, frantically looking for items that are not baby safe. Guess we missed the hole punch and the ladies got to clean up some confetti.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last year he was so new, now he's so old</td></tr>
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No pictures were taken to prove that we read books, but indeed we did read "Uncle Farley's False Teeth" and "Sitting on the Farm"...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;"> Making cards for our cousins</span></td></tr>
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Not everyone is a big fan of the "spicy" cinnamon hearts. "Here Kate, you can have the spicy ones" or if you don't like it, just swallow it fast and you won't have to suffer.<br />
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The conversation hearts went down easier, but as one little girl stated "This makes my cheek hurt" as she was chopping them down.<br />
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The Mom's had a little time to sip some apple tea</div>
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...and a little time to play with babies</div>
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We discovered we had a bit more time, so we got out the game of "hot potatoe with a twist". It was Hot Walrus instead. When the Anne Murray "Inch Worm" or "Hippo in the bathtub" song stopped playing, the person left holding the Walrus would have to pick a paper out of the hat. <br />
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You must do as the paper says...</div>
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...sing the ABC's song....<br />
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...Do a crazy dance....<br />
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...meow like a cat...<br />
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...waddle like a duck...<br />
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...hug your Mom...<br />
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...make a chicken noise...<br />
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...high 5 the people beside you...<br />
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SURPRISE! Look who crashed our party!</div>
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Now Uncle can play too!<br />
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Hummm the music stopped on Uncle's turn! ha ha<br />
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...make a silly face...<br />
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...pat your head and rub your tummy...<br />
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...make a fishy face...<br />
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...fly like a bird...<br />
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...hop on one foot?...act like a crazy kid? hummm<br />
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oh no! Auntie got thrown the Walrus and the music stopped!</div>
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...stand on one foot like a pro! oh ya!</div>
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Someone not only likes to wear sweaters, he also likes hats</div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LuXyxptuaPU/VN5L8T37WuI/AAAAAAAAQF0/Gb_ibZbjgDA/s1600/IMG_4927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LuXyxptuaPU/VN5L8T37WuI/AAAAAAAAQF0/Gb_ibZbjgDA/s1600/IMG_4927.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bujs_eT4nx4/VN5L-dgxtaI/AAAAAAAAQFc/qtVJXLTslcU/s1600/IMG_4930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bujs_eT4nx4/VN5L-dgxtaI/AAAAAAAAQFc/qtVJXLTslcU/s1600/IMG_4930.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uncles are great at eating leftover biscuits and fruit</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9rBm-tiTfmM/VN5MHod1gMI/AAAAAAAAQLk/ZjoiRdQvZaw/s1600/IMG_4931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9rBm-tiTfmM/VN5MHod1gMI/AAAAAAAAQLk/ZjoiRdQvZaw/s1600/IMG_4931.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This flubber stuff is weird!</td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KOK5vD6VXr4/VN5MOiMNCzI/AAAAAAAAQGU/-KREqMs4wPo/s1600/IMG_4932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KOK5vD6VXr4/VN5MOiMNCzI/AAAAAAAAQGU/-KREqMs4wPo/s1600/IMG_4932.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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The day before we had a little party with a few friends. It had turned out to be a snow day, so it was a bit spur of the moment, but they had fun.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zllUVDzbkZE/VN5KexDXo3I/AAAAAAAAQDM/F48nZUpXmNk/s1600/IMG_4879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zllUVDzbkZE/VN5KexDXo3I/AAAAAAAAQDM/F48nZUpXmNk/s1600/IMG_4879.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fine china for Valentine's tea time</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EUjbF5VojV4/VN5KgLkb65I/AAAAAAAAQDY/Z_7KOJStEbo/s1600/IMG_4877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EUjbF5VojV4/VN5KgLkb65I/AAAAAAAAQDY/Z_7KOJStEbo/s1600/IMG_4877.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making some more Valentine's</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Rwqb3srVkU/VN5KgVbAoWI/AAAAAAAAQDc/SbKC9iPx7x4/s1600/IMG_4887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Rwqb3srVkU/VN5KgVbAoWI/AAAAAAAAQDc/SbKC9iPx7x4/s1600/IMG_4887.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
They are very goofy, and even more so when the camera comes out.<br />
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This is one of the girls with her "date" for the day</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HTNKFXs1bn4/VN5K2PuCo-I/AAAAAAAAQD0/dM-7VN7i5eQ/s1600/IMG_4894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HTNKFXs1bn4/VN5K2PuCo-I/AAAAAAAAQD0/dM-7VN7i5eQ/s1600/IMG_4894.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the girls with their "dates"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8EPreRKzEcE/VN5K2BGu_aI/AAAAAAAAQDw/fn_Se5Zcd7o/s1600/IMG_4895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8EPreRKzEcE/VN5K2BGu_aI/AAAAAAAAQDw/fn_Se5Zcd7o/s1600/IMG_4895.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy approved dates.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-noo8uvTl3Hs/VN5K4uRRx9I/AAAAAAAAQD8/9uaWOgQDemY/s1600/IMG_4896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-noo8uvTl3Hs/VN5K4uRRx9I/AAAAAAAAQD8/9uaWOgQDemY/s1600/IMG_4896.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making supper is fun when you're with a friend</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ekg9qGF_bvs/VN5LFxlWWhI/AAAAAAAAQEU/9AXJtHKWtNE/s1600/IMG_4904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ekg9qGF_bvs/VN5LFxlWWhI/AAAAAAAAQEU/9AXJtHKWtNE/s1600/IMG_4904.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SSCK5jPuc9o/VN5Liy77b4I/AAAAAAAAQE0/5bwpFZfrj2E/s1600/IMG_4910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SSCK5jPuc9o/VN5Liy77b4I/AAAAAAAAQE0/5bwpFZfrj2E/s1600/IMG_4910.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kate did Miss S hair into a heart shaped twist</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zoNYKOVzw0Y/VN5Lop-sahI/AAAAAAAAQE8/pEfvbXdV1p0/s1600/IMG_4912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zoNYKOVzw0Y/VN5Lop-sahI/AAAAAAAAQE8/pEfvbXdV1p0/s1600/IMG_4912.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fruit kabob's</td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a6gYv_N-Qiw/VN5LXPvXfVI/AAAAAAAAQEs/MEZVAOkUCpk/s1600/IMG_4908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a6gYv_N-Qiw/VN5LXPvXfVI/AAAAAAAAQEs/MEZVAOkUCpk/s1600/IMG_4908.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L1TEemK3PtQ/VN5LqO_jefI/AAAAAAAAQFk/YVVEu7lkVwA/s1600/IMG_4914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L1TEemK3PtQ/VN5LqO_jefI/AAAAAAAAQFk/YVVEu7lkVwA/s1600/IMG_4914.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We all have that one friend... ha ha</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WpY84uQaBWY/VN5L0AIEP2I/AAAAAAAAQFM/fEpESDa5aSU/s1600/IMG_4926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WpY84uQaBWY/VN5L0AIEP2I/AAAAAAAAQFM/fEpESDa5aSU/s1600/IMG_4926.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't wait to show Mr. T our Valentine ~ Duck Dynasty style!</td></tr>
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I always enjoyed Valentine's Day as a young girl. We would "help" Mom make a special supper for Dad. My sister would insist on getting out Mom's Lavender Rose china and candles. There would always be a Valentine for us from our folks and some cinnamon heart candies. We loved making this holiday special for Mom and Dad. It was often calving season, so they'd have a special supper "in" and we kids felt so secure in them loving each other and us.<br />
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Our girls have taken on Valentine's as one of their favorite holidays too, so now we seem to have a tradition of doing a friend's party each year. Valentine's ~ a great time to celebrate how much we appreciate those around us.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475504603108298660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999630.post-49744803122886603082014-10-20T14:28:00.004-07:002014-10-20T14:30:43.851-07:00Canadians Disney Blog ~ Our trip to Disney WorldI just realized that I haven't put a link or notice of another blog I started for our Disney World trip in May 2014. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fG3nliF-GRM/U4u1goNUWII/AAAAAAAAIJk/rKQ0Spbz7iA/s1600/IMG_1128-MOTION.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fG3nliF-GRM/U4u1goNUWII/AAAAAAAAIJk/rKQ0Spbz7iA/s1600/IMG_1128-MOTION.gif" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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We had a wonderful family vacation and this is the link to the other blog so you can check it out.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kvW5wpWeWIc/U4wI-FelVaI/AAAAAAAAIvY/7O7mx_WG37E/s1600/IMG_3074-MOTION.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kvW5wpWeWIc/U4wI-FelVaI/AAAAAAAAIvY/7O7mx_WG37E/s1600/IMG_3074-MOTION.gif" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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We had requests to include some dollar figures so you can plan more accurately for your own vacation if you want :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1H_VeB2kRJVSriTLiIfkN_cN2_s7LhvoxFG0JZzXyChu1t5fW59eIq4t9_toltj3zUJ5kwlTonEgCbz4VKd-q6cYu2xKRa1B13aGGSvfSbF2TIL_v5JlSTaq3YlOryRt6ArRo/s1600/IMG_1627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1H_VeB2kRJVSriTLiIfkN_cN2_s7LhvoxFG0JZzXyChu1t5fW59eIq4t9_toltj3zUJ5kwlTonEgCbz4VKd-q6cYu2xKRa1B13aGGSvfSbF2TIL_v5JlSTaq3YlOryRt6ArRo/s1600/IMG_1627.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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Go <a href="http://canadiansdrive2disney.blogspot.ca/">HERE TO BLOG</a><br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C5s4DmNrfqA/U5M7SIAYm2I/AAAAAAAAKw0/UsFG7xZhFw8/s1600/IMG_1353-MOTION.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C5s4DmNrfqA/U5M7SIAYm2I/AAAAAAAAKw0/UsFG7xZhFw8/s1600/IMG_1353-MOTION.gif" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475504603108298660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999630.post-51623396033524801022014-10-12T16:39:00.005-07:002014-10-12T16:39:50.160-07:00Pumpkin Pie Gluten Free and Crustless RecipeThere is something delicious and wonderful about pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving. So how can we eat pumpkin pie without the gluten/wheat and the dairy?<br />
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Here is our family's solution<br />
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<b><i><u>Crustless Gluten Free Pumpkin Pie</u></i></b><br />
<b><i><u><br /></u></i></b>
2 cups / 15 oz can Pure Pumpkin<br />
1 tsp Pumpkin Pie spice<br />
2 tsp Cinnamon<br />
1/2 tsp Salt<br />
2 tsp Baking Powder<br />
1/3 cup Coconut Flour (or any Gluten Free flour, like Arrowroot, etc)<br />
1/3 cup Brown Sugar<br />
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Mix all together.<br />
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In another bowl, mix<br />
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3/4 Cup Milk (Coconut milk, Lactose Free Milk) PLUS 2 tbsp milk of your choice (Lactose Free sour cream is good)<br />
2 tbsp Coconut oil or Olive Oil or more milk if you don't have<br />
1 Egg OR 1 tbsp ground flax seed<br />
2 tsp Vanilla<br />
2 tbsp honey (or use more brown sugar)<br />
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Blend together. Pour into a greased pie plate. Decorate with Pecans or Walnuts.<br />
400F oven for approx. 30 minutes. <br />
Cool and serve.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oe7O82HMseE/VDsQ_7uqcRI/AAAAAAAAO4o/as3MOaD_3sg/s1600/IMG_3957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oe7O82HMseE/VDsQ_7uqcRI/AAAAAAAAO4o/as3MOaD_3sg/s1600/IMG_3957.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crustless Pumpkin Pie Gluten Free</td></tr>
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For a Dairy Free whipped cream topping, try whipping Coconut Milk. Use the canned coconut milk and put in the fridge over night. The thick WHITE coconut cream can be whipped into a whipped cream topping. Add a bit of sugar and vanilla to taste. You can't always find the Lactose Free Whipping Cream. Healthy than the Cool Whip edible oil product, and it's also Cholesterol Free.<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475504603108298660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999630.post-71526560342874826862014-04-17T19:25:00.000-07:002014-04-17T19:27:19.188-07:00Easter Hopping Bunnies Sweet Buns and Resurrection BunsWe had some fun today, made Hopping Bunnies and Resurrection Buns. I have been very slack in my photo taking for, well, the past year and a half? So this is what we've got.<br />
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So often we try to steer away from all the "sugar junk" that inevitably comes along with holidays, but whenever we have cut it out completely, there is always a feeling of "no celebration". So...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I6F1yBt2_hY/U1CG2ofPb0I/AAAAAAAAHA4/0xhO6cxGsDc/s1600/IMG_0107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I6F1yBt2_hY/U1CG2ofPb0I/AAAAAAAAHA4/0xhO6cxGsDc/s1600/IMG_0107.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let the children get creative!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-631k6SW4MXY/U1CHFspaWwI/AAAAAAAAHAI/tWRrWQYsGDs/s1600/IMG_0110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-631k6SW4MXY/U1CHFspaWwI/AAAAAAAAHAI/tWRrWQYsGDs/s1600/IMG_0110.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anxiously awaiting the timer and a fresh hopping bunny!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2D-Oz6y541Snoxnntb7q0McHm39ttvqPevZfy43xAILvRJv_96Wrk3i3lmG4lhnptq1yanlorWxD1aoPRnY7KnrIkV8BUsR7NK3oUAo0bXrc5wPYjJrH5gm638mI2CoJNgG_X/s1600/IMG_0114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2D-Oz6y541Snoxnntb7q0McHm39ttvqPevZfy43xAILvRJv_96Wrk3i3lmG4lhnptq1yanlorWxD1aoPRnY7KnrIkV8BUsR7NK3oUAo0bXrc5wPYjJrH5gm638mI2CoJNgG_X/s1600/IMG_0114.JPG" height="302" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YUM!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Resurrection buns...easy to make and have a great surprise inside!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Braids, Bunnies, Mickey Mouse, Kitty Cat, and something that looks like a snail?</td></tr>
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<b> Hopping Bunnies Sweet Dough Recipe</b><br />
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<b><i>1 Cup Scalded Milk 1/4 Cup Orange Juice</i></b><br />
<b><i>1 Cup Warm Water 2 Tbsp. Grated Orange Peel</i></b><br />
<b><i>1/3 Cup Sugar 5 to 6 cups White Flour</i></b><br />
<b><i>1/2 Cup Shortening</i></b><br />
<b><i>1 Tsp. Salt GLAZE: 2 Cups Icing Sugar</i></b><br />
<b><i>2 Eggs 1 Tsp. Butter</i></b><br />
<b><i>1 Tbsp. Yeast 1/4 Cup Hot Water</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b>Scald milk with shortening.</b><br />
<b>Mix Yeast with 2 cups flour.</b><br />
<b>Add Milk with shortening, water, sugar, salt, eggs, orange juice and peel.</b><br />
<b>Add in enough flour to make a non-sticky dough. ( I used my Bosch and did a double batch easily)</b><br />
<b>Let rise until Doubled.</b><br />
<b>Divide dough in half. Roll into rectangles approx. 15 inches long.</b><br />
<b>Cut strips about 1/2 inch wide. Roll or twist into ropes and then either do a FIGURE 8 shape and add a round tail OR Twist into a round spiral, then into a smaller round spiral for the head. Add ears and a tail. OR DO WHATEVER!</b><br />
<b>Let rise again, but watch to make sure they are not getting all wonky looking. We did a double batch, and by the time the last ones were okay to go in, they still looked good. Just keep baking as you design the rest. You can also make triangles and roll them into Butterhorn or Crescent shapes.</b><br />
<b>Bake at 375 for 12-15 minutes. Brush with glaze while still warm,</b><br />
<b>OR make a butter cream or cream cheese frosting to put on them.</b><br />
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<b><i><u>Resurrection Buns</u></i></b><br />
<b><i><u><br /></u></i></b>
Take a square of dough (or Pillsbury Dough Boy brand). Get a Large Marshmallow. (Jesus) Roll this in oil (like anointing of Jesus, etc) Put in the centre of your dough. Roll it up and seal it well. Let rise and bake. <br />
When it's baked, cut it down the middle ~ SURPRISE ~ Where did Jesus go? He rose from the dead, the tomb is empty! All that is left is the sweet promise of salvation and all that Jesus gives us!<br />
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Now as you know, we have some GLUTEN FREE folks in our family, so we're not going to leave them out! Tomorrow we will make the Gluten Free Paska recipe from the Mennonite Girls Can Cook Cookbook click <a href="http://www.mennonitegirlscancook.ca/2012/03/paska-gluten-free-improved-recipe.html">HERE for RECIPE</a><br />
I'll let you know how they turn out!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475504603108298660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999630.post-22738749013787161152014-03-02T14:22:00.000-08:002014-03-02T15:33:14.054-08:00Kisses From Katie ~ Uganda orphans<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=carigals-20&o=15&p=8&l=as1&asins=1451612095&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This book was first recommended to us from a friend in Manitoba who had read it along with her daughter. I started to read it and found myself unable to put it down for too long...it was such a good book! I finished it really quickly and then started to read it aloud with our family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You can click on the link for a description of the book from Amazon, but I'll give you our family's take on it as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What our family enjoyed about this book was it's pure honesty and the view point of a teenager... a young woman who is just seeing the world for the first time. What Katie did and does, is put her faith into action through simple things. She does not toot her own horn, because she knows that there would be nothing to toot without Jesus helping her every step of the way. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There were some funny stories, but more stories of just how simple acts of kindness can change a life, a family, a village. She offers a little more insight into things like child school sponsorship programs, etc.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> We found her writing to give a clear picture of what life is really like in some other areas of the world. Information on simple diseases that are devastating to those who can't get treatment, etc. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We ended this book wanting to know more...and thankfully, she does have a blog and a Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/amazima">https://www.facebook.com/amazima</a> to keep updated. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/amazima">Facebook Page</a> They started an organization called Amazina where woman make beaded necklaces, etc and sell them to provide for their families. Click <a href="http://www.amazimastore.org/">Here</a> to go to the Amazina store.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We read this book and often felt the sticky hot heat as Katie described it...imagined brushing the red dirt from our feet and washing little dirty hands and eating beans. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This book made us more aware than we normally are and while our hearts have always had compassion for the suffering ones, we felt more urgency to put our faith into action. There will always be excuses and while some excuses may be very valid, others are not. So we don't personally have a large enough house to adopt or provide foster care ~ can we do something else to help someone? While we had talked to organizations about adoption, we now talked to them about "what can we do in our situation?" Sometimes it's just being willing to step out. Turns out there are other areas to help, right here in our little town. Imagine that! It does seem easier to sponsor a child overseas than to love one right here in our own neighborhood. We felt we were being selfish and a bit hyprocritical in our actions ~ oh how I wanted to adopt a child for years, but in the mean time, what was I doing? While our family is our first priority, we were feeling that there was more, as there is always a call to let go of "self". So for us personally, it is doing what we can at the moment, while we wait to see what other doors may open for us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When we were about 1/2 way through the book, a friend of our daughter sent her a copy for her birthday. Now we own a copy! If you are local and would like to borrow it, just let me know, we'd love to share it with you.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475504603108298660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999630.post-88783525658505689062014-01-13T15:27:00.002-08:002014-01-13T15:27:54.733-08:00An Olive Garden Salad RecipeWhen I lived in the big city of Winnipeg, my roomies and I would sometimes treat ourselves to a meal out at the Olive Gardens. With FREE breadsticks and refillable salad or soup, we had it made!<br />
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In all honesty, I like to eat salad, but I really really really dislike making it. I don't know why, "it's a struggle" for me! haha.<br />
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So after I saw my cousin's 3 year old chowing down on some Peperoncini Peppers, I thought "I must eat Olive Gardens salad!"<br />
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After searching the wonderful internet I found this recipe and it is serving me well. The photos are not great and my daughters say "I don't like when people take photos of food", but I need somewhere to keep this recipe so I won't forget it.<br />
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<b>Olive Garden Salad and Dressing Recipe</b><br />
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Mixed greens (of your choice) I used Red Leaf and Green Leaf and Iceberg lettuce<br />
Red Onion<br />
Tomato<br />
Peperoncini Peppers (Unico has the canned ones)<br />
Black Olives<br />
Parmesan Cheese<br />
<br />
Mix the above for your salad part, some use croutons, some don't.<br />
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<b>Olive Garden style Salad Dressing</b><br />
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1/2 cup Mayo<br />
1/4 cup white vinegar<br />
1 tsp olive oil (or of your choice)<br />
2 tbsp corn syrup (I want to try some honey next time)<br />
2 tbsp parmesan cheese<br />
2 tbsp romano cheese ( I didn't have, so I just added more parmesan)<br />
1 clove garlic, minced<br />
1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning blend<br />
1/2 tsp parsley<br />
1 tbsp lemon juice<br />
sugar (optional)<br />
<br />
Mix all together, and keep in a container in the fridge. We used ours up within 10 days.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475504603108298660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999630.post-45801021610790294932014-01-06T16:38:00.001-08:002014-01-06T16:38:57.632-08:002013 The Christmas that didn't really happenWell, despite all our excitement over an approaching holiday season filled with family and friend and good times ~ it didn't really come to pass.<br />
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What did come to stay were high fevers, aches, chills, head aches and tummy aches. Yup, the girls started in on it around Mid December, Daddy caught it the day he came home the 18th and then Mommy rounded it off with everyone just before Christmas and into the New Year.<br />
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So, we have a few new traditions now. The best is "when we're sick, we order Chinese". Yup, we ordered out Chinese for our Christmas Eve dinner. A brother picked it up in the neighboring town and we tried to enjoy it. Our theme song this year has been Sarah MacLachlan "So this is Christmas" Click <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytjJ9R7Q2e0">HERE</a> for a live performance video. We made up some of our own words, but Sarah's version is much prettier. ha ha.<br />
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The dog doesn't look very impressed with his reindeer antlers...<br />
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We have decided to have a "Christmas Do Over" in January sometime. When we can actually have our ham with pineapple rings, potatoes, creamed corn, creamy carrots, gravy, pickles and olives and actually enjoy them.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New tradition for Plan B "When sick, order Chinese"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lUwjTO9EM64/UsoBg4fjPjI/AAAAAAAAGhI/WuPZStMEcyI/s1600/IMG_8985+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lUwjTO9EM64/UsoBg4fjPjI/AAAAAAAAGhI/WuPZStMEcyI/s1600/IMG_8985+-+Copy.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Does this even need explaining? </td></tr>
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Our girls were very diligent with their beer can gathering this summer/fall. They purchased a water filter, rabbits, chickens and a blanket for people in Asia with the money earned AND had money for presents for each other. Win Win Win Win Win.<br />
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Miss R has been stuck on Paris and the Eiffel tower...so the girls bought her a jewelry hanger of the tower.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ripping paper is such a chore...at least a nice comfy hoodie was inside!</td></tr>
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While we missed all the extended family gatherings, we did get lots of quality bonding family time on the couch. We got the opportunity to introduce our girls to Audrey Hepburn and uh, Barbie Dreamhouse. We discovered some short little TV shows of Barbie and laughed and laughed, just click <a href="http://dreamhouse.barbie.com/en-US">HERE</a> to see for yourself. Maybe we were delirious with fever, but maybe not. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baked the dogs some goodies </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...she wonders why the dogs always want in the house? </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ahhh Christmas day, chillin' at my folks</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing "Things" got the tears of laughter rolling</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the dog got the "man flu" and took advantage of all the lazy people</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Decorating Gingerbread men, lady, hot peppers, pea cocks, etc.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandpa T reading from Luke</td></tr>
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Couldn't resist this face or photo!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma T made PJ's for all the little ones...I think the grown ups were getting a little green with envy</td></tr>
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Did anyone take note of the man at the egg nog counter? Yup, a typical family gathering<br />
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More time spent on the couch</div>
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So thus 2013 went out with a bang ~ guess that means that 2014 is going to rock our world with awesomeness!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475504603108298660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999630.post-82228116042377267052013-12-14T07:57:00.002-08:002013-12-14T07:57:53.801-08:00Hardware Baby turns Sweet 16Our sweet lil' baby Kate, Hardware Baby, Bouchy, Katie Magoo, Princess Kate turned Sweet 16 this September. So proud of our girl. She gives us so many things to be thankful for and blesses us daily with her gentleness and kindness.<br />
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While we couldn't arrange for everything that she desired for her birthday (friends from BC are hard to arrange), she did get to ride her horse and we surprised her with a great birthday cake if I do say so myself!<br />
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Now the above photo can use some explanation ~ Kate had no idea why she had 30 envelopes to open. I have asked a few family and friends to write a little note or advice "To my 16 year self" for Kate. She had wonderful responses. <br />
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There were some hilarious ones from our BC neighbors, advice to travel and explore the world. Advice to stop saving up for those sensible shoes and buy that Poodle skirt instead. Advice to save some of her favorite clothes from this age for 20 years from now.<br />
Advice on picking a life partner, advice to relax and to trust her parents and those who loved her.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally her own cuddly house coat ~ now Mei can have her's back!</td></tr>
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She has her cards and letters posted all over her wall in her room ~ thank you to everyone who sent a little note.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always a horse lover, another horse blanket</td></tr>
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I had originally planned to order a cake from a dear friend who has a great cake decorating business in Oak Lake MB ( "Candace's Creations" on Facebook). Sadly, her father in law died suddenly and we decided that I would just make a cake and Kate was happy with that. Little did she know that in the last minute, Candace pulled off this GLUTEN FREE, Dairy Free Hobbit House cake in no time flat! What a wonderful surprise for Kate and all the little cousins that got to OHHH and AHHHH over it!<br />
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We didn't want to cut into it, it was so adorable... but... well....little mouths didn't mind digging in and eating the pathway and butterflies, etc.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475504603108298660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999630.post-64727840115119346962013-12-13T07:41:00.000-08:002013-12-13T07:41:10.011-08:00Ginger Jam Jams AKA Ginger Bread CookiesI will upload a photo when I can, but here is the recipe I use for Ginger Bread Men. It is really a Ginger Jam Jams recipe, but the flavor is so nice, we like them better than most really crunchy ones.<br />
<br />
<b>Ginger Jam Jams AKA Ginger Bread Men Recipe</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
1 cup Butter<br />
1 cup White Sugar<br />
1/2 cup Molasses<br />
1/2 cup Syrup<br />
1 tsp Baking Soda<br />
1/2 cup Hot Water<br />
1 tsp Ginger ( I usually add cinnamon as well, but this is the original recipe)<br />
1 tsp Salt<br />
2 tsp Vanilla<br />
6 cups (approx) Flour<br />
<br />
Cream butter and sugar.<br />
Add molasses and syrup.<br />
Dissolve baking soda in water and add.<br />
Mix dry ingredients together in separate bowl and slowly add to dough. Add enough flour to make a rollable dough.<br />
Make into your favorite shapes. Small cookies take less time to bake.<br />
BAKE 350 for 10-12 minutes.<br />
<br />
You can also let cool, then spread with raspberry or strawberry jam and make them into a sandwich cookie.<br />
<br />
This is a LARGE BATCH. Feel free to half it.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475504603108298660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999630.post-11204793396976158162013-11-19T15:24:00.001-08:002013-11-19T15:26:38.897-08:00The Great Garden Experiment 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>The Great Garden Experiment 2013</i></b></div>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">QUESTION ~ </i>Will a garden save me money on my grocery bill?</div>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">METHOD ~ </i>Keep track of all gardening expenses. Minus all the produce grown at a reasonable market price. Subtract and get the difference.</div>
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See <a href="http://crownojewels.blogspot.ca/2013/07/making-new-garden-plot.html">THIS LINK to an older post</a> about how I started a completely new garden plot in 2013.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JhLmZZI0BZ8/UorrXTW1KvI/AAAAAAAAGVA/XTL6icsTa7Y/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JhLmZZI0BZ8/UorrXTW1KvI/AAAAAAAAGVA/XTL6icsTa7Y/s400/002.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What will be the Rhubarb , Raspberry, Strawberry and Currant Garden</td></tr>
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<b><i>OBSERVATIONS ~</i></b>The garden needs more sunshine, a small row of trees must be cut down. Garden also has areas that turn hard packed (clay and shale) very easily. More compost material will help this.</div>
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Also observed that I need a whole lot of garden hose to reach to the garden....ha ha.</div>
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Also observed that hubby is most helpful with things like garden hoses, and the occasional tiling job. </div>
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Also observed that children haven't changed just I was a kid ~ weeding is not much fun without a reward. Picking the odd veggie is fun at meal time... picking long rows of beans every other day...not so much. (I tell them this is educational and character building)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGrTnlBc8wlKfU08ya9E1H4Rj73muhDNSP7-xHsSFJ4xa-EsNhJwF8X61qPbwtg5z7kIC4KTI0E3rI90Iv4aJDY_dvKA02ZHTKnTX9K2oZRm0BJ7xBDq9HGl3aQvPupCtYvXU/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGrTnlBc8wlKfU08ya9E1H4Rj73muhDNSP7-xHsSFJ4xa-EsNhJwF8X61qPbwtg5z7kIC4KTI0E3rI90Iv4aJDY_dvKA02ZHTKnTX9K2oZRm0BJ7xBDq9HGl3aQvPupCtYvXU/s400/001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fruit Garden plot showing too much shade and not enough compost/organic material yet. <br />
This was part of the Year 2 plan anyhow.</td></tr>
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I am a practical gal. I like to stretch the family income. I enjoy being a good steward of what God has blessed us with, and this is a learning process. I want to know that what is going into my family's body is high in nutrition and will be good for us. <br />
<b><i> Is gardening really worth the effort?</i></b><br />
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">FACTORS TO CONSIDER~</i> I enjoy time out doors when it is "productive", so I enjoy gardening. Haven't figured out a way to read a book and garden at the same time.</div>
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Do gardens grow other things that we don't harvest for consumption? YES. ( Some call them Weeds)</div>
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Kate insists that we should eat more of these weeds and she wants a weed garden. (You can actually eat a lot of them and they do taste good in salads)</div>
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Do a few good "weedings" early on in the growing season reduce these dramatically? YES.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugyj5lFwa7V32m87BK1qrxegA3MSYOO1XlqNDsJF2wguwLkoaTe11kRkBwOE9X4A9MR3g4M94vYbSpRdFwOTypYK_VuLKgwYTZB6n3-8WxI60erH207nLOl8Bq2aA0RzkDRk4/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugyj5lFwa7V32m87BK1qrxegA3MSYOO1XlqNDsJF2wguwLkoaTe11kRkBwOE9X4A9MR3g4M94vYbSpRdFwOTypYK_VuLKgwYTZB6n3-8WxI60erH207nLOl8Bq2aA0RzkDRk4/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Facing North, notice the shade during some of the day. Some veggies like this, others not so much!</td></tr>
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Do I value my time? YES.</div>
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Do I use my time to earn cash that I can buy these same vegetables from a local market? NO. ( I am a Stay at Home Mom who occasionally sells sewing or baking)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YWQBaaq16C0/UorpyOJSKRI/AAAAAAAAGUc/lZqGpKn8wJk/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YWQBaaq16C0/UorpyOJSKRI/AAAAAAAAGUc/lZqGpKn8wJk/s400/012.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just some of the pails of tomatoes we harvested from 18 tomato plants.</td></tr>
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Do I enjoy sweating in the sunshine as I pull a few weeds for the chickens to eat? YES.<br />
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Do I enjoy a little Vit D sun therapy as I grab some fresh salad greens and radishes for lunch? YES.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-odGymncINcQ/UorszU4oTZI/AAAAAAAAGWQ/kdEftUxawls/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-odGymncINcQ/UorszU4oTZI/AAAAAAAAGWQ/kdEftUxawls/s400/014.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beets and swiss chard behind the pail</td></tr>
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Do I enjoy swatting and dancing around like a mad woman when the mosquitoes come out and I need to go to the garden? Not Really!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6upHiLVtqu8/Uorsqv0H8YI/AAAAAAAAGWI/4GBwohyJFZs/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6upHiLVtqu8/Uorsqv0H8YI/AAAAAAAAGWI/4GBwohyJFZs/s400/012.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kohlrabi (great to eat raw)</td></tr>
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Do I like to preserve veggies and fruits when they are in abundance? YES.<br />
Do I like trying new recipes? YES<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vuSN8hsEcVA/UorsWtbsiTI/AAAAAAAAGVw/uzTynm-AqaY/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vuSN8hsEcVA/UorsWtbsiTI/AAAAAAAAGVw/uzTynm-AqaY/s400/007.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sod pile from scraping the garden in spring. It grew 6 big pumpkins for us!</td></tr>
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Can you plant seeds and walk away and come and harvest beautiful veggies 2 months later? NO.<br />
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Is my time valuable? YES.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dt1n6USBx5A/UorsOi25rSI/AAAAAAAAGVg/VBJK0Nthx3w/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dt1n6USBx5A/UorsOi25rSI/AAAAAAAAGVg/VBJK0Nthx3w/s400/008.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Put some tomato plants in "Kozy Koats" to help insulate them from colder weather. <br />
Didn't really notice a difference as the weather wasn't too extreme after I put the plants out.</td></tr>
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Do I like being over run with cucumbers and tomatoes all at once? Not Really.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s9wZHemKDQE/UorsTSC9-mI/AAAAAAAAGVo/2XTOq5sSjOg/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s9wZHemKDQE/UorsTSC9-mI/AAAAAAAAGVo/2XTOq5sSjOg/s400/009.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sneaky pumpkins, snaking through the grass along the garden edge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kn1Cnq2ytnk/UorspTESskI/AAAAAAAAGWA/nUEOFCvCT5A/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kn1Cnq2ytnk/UorspTESskI/AAAAAAAAGWA/nUEOFCvCT5A/s400/010.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long English Cucumbers. These plants just didn't quit this year. Way too many!</td></tr>
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Do I have access to land and water and composting materials? YES.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oPgJgSu2cZU/Uorsn10lS2I/AAAAAAAAGV4/-ZsxqDYEyNo/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oPgJgSu2cZU/Uorsn10lS2I/AAAAAAAAGV4/-ZsxqDYEyNo/s400/011.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brussell Sprouts. Yum... but need more sunshine!</td></tr>
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Do I enjoy sharing the bounty with others who can't have a garden? Yes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R-ZCSovCcco/Uorr8bYkDTI/AAAAAAAAGVY/sVwnYhsGYZg/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R-ZCSovCcco/Uorr8bYkDTI/AAAAAAAAGVY/sVwnYhsGYZg/s640/006.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2013 Garden Experiment in September</td></tr>
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I also sustained a back injury early August in a small roll over vehicle accident. Was it easy to bend over and harvest or weed or tend to a garden? Oh my NO! Did it still feel good to make it "all the way out to the garden" and spend a few minutes in nature? Oh my YES!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1MmjF4Za9Qc/UorrzGFtrEI/AAAAAAAAGVI/tBJFF1yAYLQ/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1MmjF4Za9Qc/UorrzGFtrEI/AAAAAAAAGVI/tBJFF1yAYLQ/s400/005.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kate's Bean Experiments. She grew lots and harvested them as dry beans</td></tr>
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Was it a good year for gardening in Manitoba in 2013? Well, I think we did okay. Life throws some curve balls at us, but I still managed "something", which in my books, is "Better than nothing".<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSY3AHV8I9Hk2A9O1V_n9idIDiCVplzxcciJEqDIARDJV7qCMU7Cj0EnloWHxsl2FayOvxc8wV_wEqQn7WiKc-rMVje_P58978hUef-FH_N2T_jPTrye6XejFob07J_F8gZ7OL/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSY3AHV8I9Hk2A9O1V_n9idIDiCVplzxcciJEqDIARDJV7qCMU7Cj0EnloWHxsl2FayOvxc8wV_wEqQn7WiKc-rMVje_P58978hUef-FH_N2T_jPTrye6XejFob07J_F8gZ7OL/s400/004.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The North side that gets more sun, but also has more clay and shale from an old shed foundation.</td></tr>
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Do I get tremendous satisfaction in seeing jars of good organic, nutrient rich food on my shelves to feed my family throughout the winter ~ Oh, my YES YES YES.</div>
<div>
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<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">CONCLUSION ~ </i>Total actual costs from earlier preparation was $450 Cdn.<br />
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Produce calculated at market value $1000 Cdn.</div>
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Difference + $550 Profit</div>
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How did I come to that conclusion? I kept a running tally of produce items that I brought to our table from the garden. Started with a radish, green onions, lettuce. Then moved to keeping track of swiss chard, snap peas, etc. If I made a salad I calculated $4 for a store bought salad and added to my tally. When I picked a large cucumber, I counted $1. When I canned something, I counted an appropriate amount to purchase it from a store, usually a lower amount of $3/jar. When I gave away a box of tomatoes, I counted $25 to purchase a case in the store, etc etc. You get the idea.<br />
<i>I also counted in gleaning produce....picking apples, plums, etc. from a neighbor. If you live in a small community, it doesn't take much to get the word out that you appreciate gleaning and will go pick others 'unwanted' fruit.</i><br />
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Honestly, I was a little disappointed that I didn't preserve more, but this year I had to let some of it go and realize that "some is better than none" and "there is always next year"<br />
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You know what really makes me smile? <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our animals benefit from fresh organic food too!</td></tr>
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When we can eat a whole meal that was all from our local farmers and our own garden.<br />
Beef from a cousin, Chickens we raised, Veggies frozen from our garden, Potatoes, and then canned fruit or frozen fruit. YUM! <br />
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Below is my running tally on some of the canning I managed to get done this year with my girls help. I have no idea how much we eat in a year, and I would like to know!<br />
Also, some years are "good peach years", so I can more of them that year. Last year was a "good cherry" year for me. This year I went to a U Pick for Strawberries, but never found any Saskatoons...<br />
So, we eat what we have. I am also learning to not "hoard" this food and to actually eat it! It does us no good just sitting on the shelf.<br />
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<b>Jolene's 2013 Canning List as at Oct. 31/13</b><br />
Dilled Carrots 15 quarts<br />
Apple Pie Filling 26 qts<br />
Pickled Beets 5 pints, 1 qt<br />
Tomato Soup 12 pints, 7 pints, 1 quart Gluten Free<br />
Plum juice<br />
Apple Juice<br />
Peaches 12 qts<br />
Tomato Sauce 3 qts<br />
Pears 10 qts<br />
Salsa 13 pints with corn, 11 pints regular, 12 pints later tomatoes, a bit mushy<br />
Jam ~ Strawberry Rhubarb<br />
Blueberry<br />
Jelly ~ Grape<br />
Apple<br />
Plum<br />
Stewed Tomatoes 25 quarts<br />
Pear Butter 13 pints<br />
Bread and Butter Pickles 10 pints<br />
176 jars, without actually counting some of them yet. 176 x 3 = $528 worth.<br />
We cannot live solely on this, but it sure helps with those long stretches between grocery shops.<br />
This does not count the frozen or dehydrated foods either.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ar_KKC_UtQVO8VlEVBxlo4LMD-a_RSrxTGquomTKoJ0oMtLRhTCSC8wtc7-MaCdzvAdaKrcxkslmIvc7PMMk9wTPCgBvSONp80Ao773xJJIGy5PKczNK-i4rjKDFcdHIuc4m/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ar_KKC_UtQVO8VlEVBxlo4LMD-a_RSrxTGquomTKoJ0oMtLRhTCSC8wtc7-MaCdzvAdaKrcxkslmIvc7PMMk9wTPCgBvSONp80Ao773xJJIGy5PKczNK-i4rjKDFcdHIuc4m/s400/001.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corn in our 13 ft x 20 ft (?) plot at the community garden.</td></tr>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">FINAL CONCLUSION ~ Yes, a garden saved me money on my grocery bill.</i> I hardly bought any groceries this summer...and sure not any veggies!<br />
If any of the above reasoning applies to you, then you may find this interesting. IF not, you probably didn't read this far anyhow! Do I make money on my garden? Well, no. Do I SAVE the money we do have? Yes. Did I lose money on my garden? NO!!! <br />
I have daughters to teach these practical skills too....also a responsibility to feed them good nutritional food for their growing bodies.<br />
Was it worth it to have a garden even if we did it only 1 year? My conclusion...yes.<br />
~~ Please share some of your gardening tips or recipes for fresh veggies in the comment section below ~ I would appreciate that! Share and share alike!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475504603108298660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999630.post-66258887284735351822013-11-01T13:42:00.002-07:002013-11-01T13:47:22.667-07:00Great Christmas Story Book ~ A porcupine in a Pine Tree and The Christmas Baby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I am striving to do some little reviews on books our children have enjoyed and am going through some older blog posts to find any that I have already shared with you.</div>
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We usually purchase 1 Christmas story book each year to add to our growing library. My husband recalls with fondness when his own Mom would bring out the box of Christmas books... everything from Mary and Joseph to the Berenstain Bears. They would gather around the red couch and Mom would read! I was privileged as well to be able to join in with this tradition for many years.</div>
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The following 2 books were new to us in 2011 and are favorites.</div>
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~ "The Christmas Baby" by Marion Bane Bauer and Richard Cowdrey ~ such wonderful happy pictures and such delight over ALL babies born at this time of year. I thought this book appropriate because in our large family, there is always a new babe to celebrate or one that we are anxiously awaiting. A Big Thumbs Up!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKwzPsE2fmX-NVguO03VXPAo151vV19paa4pbWmASO5d9Cz4zsE178x99GqFOFdTbw6lKe3QhbqCK8ety5m17jE6m2DJFnqQHBrHzThO26vqN6_dxJfZhxHG_CN6K63PI0Q0I/s1600/IMG_1631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKwzPsE2fmX-NVguO03VXPAo151vV19paa4pbWmASO5d9Cz4zsE178x99GqFOFdTbw6lKe3QhbqCK8ety5m17jE6m2DJFnqQHBrHzThO26vqN6_dxJfZhxHG_CN6K63PI0Q0I/s400/IMG_1631.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXBoFBxLES5xUD5GH9t7niVL-SUyDwJlNHs8ekcfhILjXZBWNNKxXw-P3TUCehEs6Tz8KqTzE4kszeV2HU12pJZikm8oyjh_gVcbACoSzkYy2Q4OQzef6TLp5Lf3FjcyFxbCK/s1600/IMG_1632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXBoFBxLES5xUD5GH9t7niVL-SUyDwJlNHs8ekcfhILjXZBWNNKxXw-P3TUCehEs6Tz8KqTzE4kszeV2HU12pJZikm8oyjh_gVcbACoSzkYy2Q4OQzef6TLp5Lf3FjcyFxbCK/s400/IMG_1632.jpg" width="400" /></a> "A porcupine in a Pine Tree" the Canadian 12 days of Christmas by Helaine Becker and Werner Zimmermann. Things like 8 Mounties Munching, Five Stanley Cups, Two Caribou... a delightful twist and such fun pictures! A definite THUMBS UP to this book!<br />
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We actually did our own little spin on this book for a Christmas dinner play. Very easy to adapt and make into a little skit!!! Now how is that for ideas?<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475504603108298660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999630.post-88240805149704727662013-10-18T09:47:00.001-07:002013-10-18T09:47:07.945-07:00Little Women, Good Wives, Little Men, Jo's BoysClassic novels by Louisa May Alcott<br />
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I am the type of Mom that reads out loud to my girls at meal times. I also read out loud while we are driving, as I am the only one who can do so without suffering the queasy consequences. I'm not exactly sure when that habit formed, but it has. Most often it's those meals when Daddy is not at home and to be honest, when I am finished eating and my mind is turning to things other than what is sitting before me. So, I started to read books of their choice out loud.<br />
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The latest book is "Good Wives" by Louisa May Alcott. We had read "Little Women" and then watched the movie version with Winona Ryder...it actually covers the Good Wives book as well. We were a little confused and had thought they made up a different ending. So now we are reading the rest of the books and always have fun comparing the movie to the book. These are books that my older girls could easily read on their own, but we do enjoy reading together. This way, when more classic terminology comes up, it can be easily explained.<br />
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Most often we don't watch the movie version until we've had the pleasure of reading the book and forming our own mental pictures beforehand. We love the freedom to imagine each character as we like.<br />
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<i>As always, if you click to Amazon through the above links, we receive a small percentage which we pass along to adopting families in Manitoba. Thank you!</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475504603108298660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999630.post-12688680164154720842013-10-18T09:36:00.001-07:002013-10-18T09:36:40.415-07:00Birthday Party Games and FunMei's 10th Birthday Party theme was "Crazy Weirdo Dress Up" and "Fancy Dress Up Dinner"<br />
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Some participants were lead astray in the games ~ all for the amusement of the rest<br />
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The great apple on a spoon race</div>
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This friend won the prize for the wackiest outfit!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sparkler Surprise!</td></tr>
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After their Fancy Dress Up Pizza dinner, they decided to run around the garden park for a bit</div>
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The last photo makes me think of how quickly the years fly past us...all my children have entered the "double digits" now. How sweet that first phase of parenthood was and how sweet is this promise of the next ones to come!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475504603108298660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999630.post-45781698974977558642013-10-18T09:26:00.001-07:002013-10-18T09:26:43.213-07:00Mei's Birthday Party Part 2 ~ Decorating and a Fondant Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The best part about parties is doing the decorating. Inviting a friend over to help you makes it even better.<br />
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<u>Thrift Note:</u> Michael's craft store in Manitoba often has big bins outside marked $0.50...we found everything we needed for decorating with a theme from invitations to party favors there.<br />
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Slipped this photo in of the birthday girl getting her breakfast in bed...and yes, her night shirt was hinting to the same!<br />
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She insisted on a store bought cake mix, so her cake would be very tiny. Not a bad thing, then you don't have to eat leftover cake for days on end. I added some raspberry jam in between the 2 layers to help it stick together and to give it a bit more flavor.<br />
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Made up a simple butter cream frosting to apply all over the cake before the fondant. I used this recipe and you can easily half or double the recipe <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/gale-gand/quick-vanilla-buttercream-frosting-recipe/index.html">Butter Cream Frosting Recipe</a><br />
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We had never made a fondant icing before and our cake baking friend was not available. Another friend told us about Marshmallow fondant. Sounded pretty good, so we used this <a href="http://www.wilton.com/recipe/Rolled-Marshmallow-Fondant">Marshmallow Fondant Recipe</a></div>
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The only thing we did a little mess up on was the amount of marshmallows. The grams/oz are not the same, so in Canada, we need about 1 1/2 bags of mini marshmallows. It was obvious when we started to mix it ~ it was still crumbly. I simply warmed up more marshmallows and added them in. Great results and it rolls out so nicely. I sprayed a little oil on the table and that was it!<br />
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Used our pizza cutter to trim the fondant around the bottom, then used our fingertips to shape the rest.<br />
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We thought it looked like a little hat</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first Marshmallow Fondant Icing Cake</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475504603108298660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999630.post-41582778278291248532013-10-18T08:25:00.003-07:002013-10-18T08:30:01.160-07:00Mei's 10th Birthday Celebration Pinata fun!"I've always dreamed of having a Pinata at my Birthday ~ well, ever since I knew of Pinata's" ~ Mei<br />
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So we blew up the biggest and heaviest balloon we had (Thank you Dollar Store for the helium quality balloon) and proceeded with applying the mixture of flour and water ( 1 cup water to 1/2 cup flour) and strips of newspaper. We let it dry, so applied 3 more layers before doing plain white paper. <br />
<u>THRIFT NOTE:</u> Cost approx $1 to make, but you still need to fill with your choice of candy, etc.<br />
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Leave a hole around the balloon tie so that you can pop it and also fill it up with goodies! We would have liked to have done a few more layers, but we ran out of time.<br />
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Get the older sister to climb her reading tree and tie up the Pinata<br />
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Let everyone get a crack at it once if you like to be fair</div>
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The one that did it in ~</div>
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The best part is the scramble for the goodies afterwards!</div>
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We just glued on some leftover streamers on the Pinata. We thought of painting it, but again, time was a'wasting away on us. We filled it with candies and balloons.</div>
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I've decided to break up this Birthday post a bit, so will leave you with thoughts of sugar junk :)</div>
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Below is a link to a great cookbook that our girls have used for their party planning. I have posted before on the wonderful Meringues on the front cover. Naturally Gluten Free too! We haven't regretted purchasing this book at all. Recipes for Hummus, Potato Wedges, Bruschetta, Couscous, Salads, Spring Rolls, Skewers, Burgers, Butternut Squash Soup, Mango Pops, Fondants, Shortbreads, Cordials, etc etc. They have wonderful photos and step by step instructions as well. Not your average childrens cookbook!<br />
<i>All proceeds from Amazon sales through my blog go to helping adopting families in Manitoba...Click below for more info on the cookbook, or to browse Amazon.</i></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=carigals-20&o=15&p=8&l=as1&asins=075664500X&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
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<a href="http://crownojewels.blogspot.ca/2013/03/valentines-2012.html">http://crownojewels.blogspot.ca/2013/03/valentines-2012.html</a><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475504603108298660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999630.post-7797425388658562112013-09-14T12:28:00.000-07:002013-09-14T12:28:02.818-07:00Rabbit Hutch PalaceOur bunnies live in a palace. Our girls are jealous. The bunnies are very very happy...wouldn't you be if you had such deluxe accommodations?<br />
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First... meet Lucy...</div>
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and Molly (she has the most adorable chubby cheeks ever!)</div>
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Now my dear husband found this hutch for free in a little town south of us. His Dad just happened to be working in that town and he had a large empty trailer. We did have to get my cousins to run over and help him load this heavy beast, but it was very worth it. We're planning a little "Thank You" for them, but otherwise this wonderful hutch was free. Pays to watch online classifieds!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rabbit hutch Palace</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two side doors open up for feeding, play time, and cleaning.</td></tr>
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Made out of someone's dismantled decking material, this thing weighs more than you think.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side of winterized area, notice the handles</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Both sides opened up, one is for feeding and playing, the other is their winterized pen and bathroom facilities.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Underneath, shade and room to run</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side with a removable tray for easy cleaning and composting of all that good fertilizer.</td></tr>
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I've been adding the manure to my compost and straight into my garden and flower bed as well.</div>
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We put a bunch of grass clippings in to see if they would 1. lay in it 2. poop in it. </div>
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Well...they do the latter.</div>
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They love carrots and we are having a much better time with these two little sisters. We have learned how to "immobilize" them by picking them up behind their hips and holding them on their backs. They do just seem to have better temperaments, perhaps partially because they have so much space and don't feel the need to "protect" it and bite us.<br />
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Nothing sweeter than sitting outside with my tea and watching these little sweeties. <br />
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We have let the girls take the bunnies into the little play house so they can have some play time. It also helps get little people used to them and not afraid.<br />
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Sometimes they'll even reach out and give them a pat.<br />
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More views of the hutch and the downstairs ramp....they are so fun to watch </div>
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racing up and down it!</div>
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They are still small enough to enough the little orange igloo as well.</div>
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Girls are no longer afraid to reach in to pet the bunnies either. We've found they are easier to love when their food has run out and they LIKE you!<br />
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Molly biting off bits of a carrot and munching down.</div>
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Lucy eating some alfalfa pellets. She has some fun grey coloring as well, so we'll see how she grows up.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrRm9jdtOS5CkGmjtd888OU_XFXWN8iPUcZYHutIBDyxrNbjQoMjjQTsd3ki5ZkfXn-AdTmhoU6zTCjF8MAil6aK7DlFCWD7Zafhkh7_4utsjfk9ydZ0BVGq19b9r0ojILvME/s1600/036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrRm9jdtOS5CkGmjtd888OU_XFXWN8iPUcZYHutIBDyxrNbjQoMjjQTsd3ki5ZkfXn-AdTmhoU6zTCjF8MAil6aK7DlFCWD7Zafhkh7_4utsjfk9ydZ0BVGq19b9r0ojILvME/s320/036.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Molly is the most timid, but here she is sitting with Mei and still munching that same carrot.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475504603108298660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999630.post-75397537153982479932013-09-13T18:57:00.001-07:002013-09-13T18:57:05.699-07:00Canned Apple Pie Filling, Tomato Soup, and Dilled CarrotsI am finally squirreling away some food for winter! This is very exciting, as it means my back injury is healing and I am finally feeling up to it. Can't understand how poorly I was feeling, but I am still on my target for 2013's garden ~ $450 worth of vegetables into my home! I am now sitting around the $375 mark.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nxN7otWtRnM/UjNkwfRxuvI/AAAAAAAAGDI/n8Vh58APpcg/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nxN7otWtRnM/UjNkwfRxuvI/AAAAAAAAGDI/n8Vh58APpcg/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homemade Apple Pie Filling</td></tr>
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These apples actually came from our old yard in Oak Lake ~ how sweet it was to meet the new owners and be given some of the plums and apples that we had all come to love. They are now made into Apple Pie filling and we've been eating the rest just fresh!<br />
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<b><i>Canned Apple Pie Filling</i></b><br />
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7 quarts chopped up apples (in salt water or lemon juice to keep fresh)<br />
4 1/2 cups sugar ( I did 2 cups of brown, rest white)<br />
1 cup cornstarch<br />
1/4 tsp nutmeg<br />
2 tsp cinnamon<br />
1 tsp salt<br />
3 tbsp lemon juice<br />
10 1/2 cups water<br />
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Cook syrup.<br />
Pack apples into hot sterilized jars with a 1/2 inch head space ( Don't over fill, or they boil over and can't seal)<br />
Pour hot syrup into apple jars, wipe rims, put the lids on.<br />
Hot water bath for 15 to 20 minutes.<br />
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I am generous with my spices and added some cloves as well. Adjust to taste. This makes a great Apple Crisp as well as pie. One of my jars was too full, so it didn't seal ~ so we had apple crisp! I love some opps!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homemade Canned Tomato Soup</td></tr>
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This is my first time canning Tomato Soup, but with a wheat allergy in the household, Campbells soup is out for us. This will come in very handy for quick casseroles, etc.</div>
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<b><i>Canned Tomato Soup (Wheat Free ~ Gluten Free)</i></b></div>
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12 lbs ripe tomatoes</div>
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6 onions</div>
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1 bunch parsley</div>
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1 head celery</div>
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2-4 bay leaves</div>
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8 whole cloves</div>
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1 red pepper</div>
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1 green pepper</div>
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1/2 cup white sugar</div>
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1/2 cup margarine (for lactose intolerant) or Butter</div>
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1/2 tsp cayenne pepper</div>
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3/4 cup cornstarch/ rice flour or mixture of both</div>
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Place first 8 ingredients in a large pot and boil for 2 hours. Cool slightly and blend or put through a food processor. Return to pot. I strained some of mine with a cheese cloth, some use a sieve. I just need to find a sieve, I think I would like it! Mix together sugar, margarine, cayenne and flour. Add some cooled soup to make a paste. Add slowly, while stirring to soup. Heat, stir until thickened. </div>
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Pour into hot sterilized jars and seal. Hot water bath for 20 minutes or 5 lbs pressure for 10 minutes in a pressure canner.</div>
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This recipe can easily be changed to add or remove spices that you like or dislike. Some add some carrots, basil, etc.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9syO-28JKTs/UjNkz45JGII/AAAAAAAAGDU/CrPFIl5adAk/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9syO-28JKTs/UjNkz45JGII/AAAAAAAAGDU/CrPFIl5adAk/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carrot comparison<br /></td></tr>
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The above photo shows the difference between thinning carrots or leaving them crowded. We did a bit of an experiment in the community garden this year. The ones on the Left were thinned (planted further apart) and the others were not. Those were the larger ones too ~ most were very tiny and cute to eat, but not that productive. The kids at the Community Garden will now plant theirs a little further apart ~ fun lesson learned!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pickled Dilled Carrots</td></tr>
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<i><b> Pickled Dilled Carrots OR Beans</b></i><br />
1 large piece of dill (head) per jar<br />
1 bay leaf per jar<br />
2-4 cloves of garlic per jar<br />
4 quarts firm carrots OR beans, washed and cut, etc<br />
4 cups water<br />
4 cups vinegar<br />
8 tbsp pickling salt<br />
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Put first 3 ingredients in your sterilized jars. Pack with clean and prepared carrots or beans. Bring water, vinegar and salt to a full boil. Pour into jars and seal with sterilized lids. Hot water bath for 15-20 minutes.<br />
This recipe is basic and you could add different spices as well.<br />
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Look whooo showed up in the garden today, my daughters little creation!</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475504603108298660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999630.post-20429109799857801502013-09-12T16:40:00.002-07:002013-10-16T16:40:16.673-07:00The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall Book Review<img alt="Cover of The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpmTILRDFZfQhTB3t5DG_Pgj-fEtoHf_C0OKXfOGzpF9rer5RKoyUfsTcrpGdr5-wqGRw2skNGE4c1YZdv9CXm8RNi9jrGtG4J4gXoz_nl_Jcn_OGkMBrON_DczuQCeMg7OEo/s200/%257B9E49F979-51A4-4BA9-B730-BC64EEE0EB48%257DImg100.jpg" /> Yes, yes, I promised more reviews and we will try our best.<br />
I just finished reading <u style="font-style: italic;">The Penderwicks</u> by Jeanne Birdsall as a read-out-loud to our three girls, ages 9, 12, 15 years. Can we say how much we loved this book? We all laughed out loud (even Daddy) while reading this. The pictures that form in your mind can definitely get the giggles going. It was very age appropriate for my girls. The characters are excellently written, personalities shine through. Family honor, communication, and yes, fun and exploring are main themes. The girls are being raised by their Father after their Mother has died. The tween does develop a 'crush' on the older teenager boy, but it is very innocent and has a good lesson/ending to it.<br />
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Now ~ imagine our delight when we discovered there are 2 MORE books! We are looking forward to reading the next two.<br />
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<img alt="The Penderwicks on Gardam Street" src="http://cache0.bdcdn.net/assets/images/book/medium/9780/4408/9780440868408.jpg" /><br />
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<img alt="The Penderwicks at Point Mouette" src="http://cache0.bdcdn.net/assets/images/book/small/9780/8575/9780857560308.jpg" /><br />
I do have an Amazon Associates account, and if you click on the links below and place an order, I will receive a very modest commission which I pass along to Manitoba Adopting Families.<br />
Thanks!<br />
<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475504603108298660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999630.post-81810643132415296102013-08-31T14:41:00.000-07:002013-08-31T17:22:44.070-07:00Summer surprise ~ Shamrock Drive In Movie Theatre!My hubby had a great idea to let our girls have a pretty cool summer time experience... remember those days when "going to a movie" meant the Drive In? There are not many of them left in our province, just Killarney, Morden and perhaps Dauphin? <br />
So we surprised the girls with a dinner out in Boissevain with Nana & Papa first.<br />
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When we moved from BC, neighbors at "Pearl Meadow" gave us a gift certificate to eat out at Veva's Restaurant in Boissevain. This would be a great time to make use of the thoughtful gift.<br />
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Great food and the service was amazing! (Thanks to our great hostess!)<br />
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Then we were off to Killarney! Gregg and I had been watching the Shamrock's Facebook page to see which movies were playing . We had planned to take the girls to "Epic" but then we had the roll over. So now "Despicable Me 2" was playing Sept. long weekend and off we went!<br />
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Keeping a close eye on the clouds and the storm warning forecast!<br />
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Girls still have no idea where we are going (except Kate) and they are curious why we packed lawn chairs, pillows, blankets, water bottles and some snack foods. <br />
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Why are we stopped on the side of the road and Dad is using now as a good time to wash the windshield??</div>
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Rock climbing doesn't seem right... oh wait ... the sign says a movie is playing!</div>
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Ah ha!</div>
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Gregg and I used to court/date at the Brandon Drive In and also the Killarney drive in. We usually invited some friends and off we went for the whole experience.</div>
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Remember these speakers? How many people drove away with them still in their windows? HA!</div>
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Dad was remembering the gut ache he got from all the soda's and licorice he would eat at the Drive In.</div>
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There is something very different and unique about the Drive In ~ everyone is relaxed... there are no cell phones, etc or people pushing on your seats, etc. You don't even mind if someone walks by, or if another vehicles antennae is in your line of view. Families are having fun. Those on dates are having fun. <br />
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Glad we brought the old Honda, girls decided to lay on the roof!</div>
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Why is Dad always so weird?</div>
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The movie is starting! A nice breeze that kept the mosquitoes away and the rain stayed away until the closing credits! Perfect timing and the lightening in the background just added to the experience.</div>
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Very happy!</div>
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We had a wonderful chat with the new owners.. and yes, they know other Thiessen relatives! Small world. They've just welcomed their 8th child, they home educate and they are wonderful hosts! Gregg even got to see the old projectors! <br />
So if you get the chance... take the drive! Getting home at 1 am is no big deal :0 This is their last weekend for the season and they have a family movie playing and then a more mature as well. Find them on Facebook. So nice to support a family as well and not just a big corporation. The prices are cheaper than Brandon too. Although with the 8 children, their corporation is growing ! Ha ha....<br />
Until next summer...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475504603108298660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999630.post-21554913431303792312013-08-31T14:22:00.002-07:002013-08-31T14:22:29.688-07:00Homeschooling in Manitoba We have moved back to Manitoba after being in BC for 4 years ~ thus, we need to register as a home educating family in Manitoba. We had previously home schooled in Manitoba before moving to BC, but I needed to see what had changed. The answer ~ nothing.<br />
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I did a quick search on the Manitoba Government website and found this info.<br />
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<a href="http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/schools/ind/home_sch.html">Manitoba Government Education Site</a><br />
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A child needs to be registered in a public, private or home school the year that they turn 7 years old. This is to be completed by Sept 1st or within 30 days of your decision to home educate.<br />
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You can print out your intent to home educate forms or get them to mail them to you. I choose to have them mailed. I emailed this address homeschooling@gov.mb.ca with how many children I was planning on educating at home.<br />
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They sent me the welcome package in the mail and this is what I filled out<br />
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I had been told to write a minimal amount of info on these forms ~ so I figured this should do. They want to know what books/curriculum I would be using for Math, Language Arts, Science and Social Studies. Then there was a spot for the "others".</div>
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This is very different from our experience in BC, where I had the most wonderful home teacher / support system ever and I received $1000/child/year for their textbooks, etc.</div>
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Manitoba offers no financial support, minimal educational support (unless I can find it myself somehow) but then I am only required to send in the above notification and 2 reports for the rest of the year. Less time consuming for me. The reports look very similar to the above as well.</div>
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If you are looking for a bit more "support" in Manitoba, try the following:</div>
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<b>Manitoba Association of Christian Home Schools (MACHS)</b> (they have a conference in WPG each spring) <a href="https://www.machs.mb.ca/">Click here</a></div>
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<b>Homeschool Canada <a href="http://homeschoolcanada.ca/canadian-homeschool-laws-manitoba/">Click Here</a></b></div>
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<b>Manitoba Association of Schooling at Home (MASH) <a href="http://manitobahomeschool.com/">Click Here</a></b></div>
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There is a Yahoo Group and a few Facebook groups available as well ... try </div>
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Westman Homeschoolers</div>
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Manitoba Association of Schooling at Home (MASH)</div>
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As far as mental/social/emotional support ~ I believe in finding a mentor and having someone to talk to and vent and bounce ideas off. Find someone with children slightly older than yours, with similar family values and ideas and let them motivate you. ( perhaps I should also say that you could be an encouragement to them in the process as well) </div>
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The biggest hurdle I've found with educating our three girls at home is that I feel all alone sometimes. The best thing for myself at those moments is getting together with another family or a Mom and just chatting and maybe getting that one little idea or that comment that can keep me going. </div>
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Don't be shy with your own compliments ~ let people have it ! Tell them that their children are "well behaved", " clever minded", "compassionate", "quick learners", etc etc. Let them know the good qualities you've noticed in the children or their family, etc.</div>
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Encourage and be encouraged!</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475504603108298660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999630.post-9399941393783534792013-08-11T07:55:00.000-07:002014-08-05T15:37:04.739-07:00A little Roll AroundHow to post about an event that took just seconds to happen?<br />
My two youngest daughters and I were traveling on a very familiar gravel road, heading to a family gathering, when I lost control of the van and we ended up in the ditch. Yes, the conditions were extremely wet (2 inches of rain and counting) and there was a very soft spot on that road. I was going 60 km/h and while I corrected one slide, I obviously did not correct the next. There was probably some hydroplaning involved, seeing as the ruts were full of water and something also happened with the rear tire as we turned sideways. In that one second that I had to decide what to do, all I thought was "don't roll on the road". So.. we rolled into the ditch and I quickly said "Lord Jesus" out loud and told the girls "hold on girls" and in we went. I honestly thought we would only tip over on our side or head bang on into the ditch. I prayed silently for God to keep the roof off my girls heads and that the air bags wouldn't hurt us.<br />
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We flipped completely onto the roof and then right around onto our wheels again... facing North instead of South. Vehicle still runs just fine :) <br />
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The girls had very interesting views while it was happening and had some slow motion experience. Miss M saw a Tupperware bowl float by her, hit the window and then hit her in the head. Miss R saw me whiplash in my seat. I had my eyes tightly closed I guess, as all I experienced were sensations and then saw some cows when I opened my eyes. <br />
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I was very impressed at the calmness and maturity my girls had with the whole event. Miss M's first words were "well, that was weird". I told the girls calmly, to just sit and relax afterwards and let me look at them. Miss R had some dirt and debris on her face and 2 little spots of blood on her hand from some glass and I had the same amount on my neck from the seatbelt. There was glass everywhere! I didn't want them touching anything, but we had to get out. After turning off the vehicle and deciding we were all okay and that no, that watermelon juice was not a body fluid, we all crawled out of the van. Miss M's next words were "what can I do to help Mom?". One proud Momma! I was looking for my sweater that had been on my lap as I was thinking "it's raining and I am going to get soaked"... well, the sweater was already soaking in the ditch water. Guess I wouldn't be wearing it. SO thankful that all of us were buckled in properly, or we could have been soaking in the ditch as well.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everything in the van was completely drenched with water</td></tr>
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So I ended up gathering up a few things from the water and popped them into my bag and oh wait, there is the camera, maybe I should take some photos. I poured some bottled water over our hands and we shook off some of the glass on our face, hair and clothes.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of glass shards on our face and in our hair</td></tr>
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Then we started walking home and waiting for some passerby to stop and perhaps give us a ride home. We saw one car heading our way and then they turned around and headed back :( About 5 minutes later a big old motor home came and offered us a ride home. Funny how they knew who we were once we told them "we live in the yellow house" and he brought us right home. So we ended up going next door to our siblings and asked if they could drive us to the hospital once I made some phone calls and we had a quick shower. We were certain that there was glass in our eyes and probably in our scalp as well. So I made the phone call to my hubby (who was on his way home from Calgary) and told him "First of all, everyone is okay...." Poor man, he couldn't get home fast enough.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice how the Town and Country van roof just buckled and took the impact</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passenger window completely gone, this is where all the glass came from</td></tr>
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The nurses checked the girls a bit for neck injuries, etc and we all had glass removed from our eyes. I am still dealing with some tiny shards in my scalp, but they are eventually coming out. We were then told to go to our family Dr. the next week. The girls seem pretty good, only Miss R needed some Tylenol for a bump on her head and general muscle aches. I have finally received some muscle relaxants that help me sleep instead of being in constant pain. Guess I've never had that kind of pain (well, except a migraine) that Advil or Tylenol couldn't fix for me. Thankfully we had family living close by that could drop what they were doing and take us in and even treat us to supper afterwards. I really think this helped us relax and especially take the girls mind off it. I know Miss M was thinking about how her life could have changed in something had happened to any of us.<br />
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The roof collasped between the 2 front seats</div>
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The local auto shop came out ASAP and towed the vehicle back to their yard. I also phoned the RCMP and they told me what I needed to do.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Girls noticing that the car turned around instead</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;">So now we wait ~ for the adjuster to check out the van and tell us what compensation our insurance will give us ~ then we start the hunt for another vehicle. We have learned first hand how important some safety features are!</span></div>
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We've also been shaken up and saw just how quickly our life could have changed by a few small details. God is good and gave us more time together. We are very thankful. We're also very thankful for those who popped by to "see if you are okay" and asked how we were doing. I'm thankful too that I had made a big pot of soup before hand and we had a few meals from it... especially nice when just making a quick pot of rice would wear me out. We had some friends help with the little details of driving girls to their camp, etc and I had the privilege of just lying on the couch watching movies and sleeping. Amazing how nothing else matters at that point.</div>
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We've all been reminded how life really is about relationships and interactions with people. I will try to listen to that voice in my head more often ~ that one that tells me, "go ask how they are doing" or "you could bring them something"... just to acknowledge that they are important to you.</div>
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<b><i>Thank you Lord Jesus for answering my prayers and keeping us all safe and sound in your hands.</i></b></div>
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<b><i><u>UPDATE 1 year later:</u></i></b></div>
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Well, Mei suffers no after affects. Ruth is still undergoing some chiropractic treatment and with exercise and treatment is actually starting to feel better than before ! Jolene is still having difficulties with her back. There is one very sensitive area on her spine and she is going for further testing. All in all, we've all come a long way since this roll over. Learned new or different techniques to use in garden work with bending over etc. Jolene still doesn't feel like she is up to her same capabilities as before, but is optimistic! MPI has continued to pay for these treatments thus far, but we'll have to see what they continue to do.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475504603108298660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999630.post-68975029256844296312013-08-06T12:43:00.000-07:002013-08-06T12:43:08.553-07:00Blu ~ Brandon's New Restaurant Well, dear hubby and I went out for a date a few weeks ago... decided to do the practical thing and picked some strawberries at Grand Valley Strawberries first. Then decided to go for a bite to eat. We were good and hungry and it was somewhat chilly outside even though it was mid July.<br />
We decided on trying the new restaurant (formerly Gullivers) called Blu. <br />
The atmosphere is mainly black modern styling and seemed more of a lounge type, trying to be a higher end lounge. We did get to sit in a crescent shape booth. <br />
It was freezing cold in there. I put on my sweater and the server promptly brought me my soup which was good! I ordered the Chicken Curry soup and Gregg went with a Stuffed Chicken with fresh vegetables plate.<br />
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That is a $24 or $28 plate of food at Blu . It was bland, Gregg asked for butter and salt and pepper. The peppers were the most flavorful. The sprig of rosemary didn't add much flavor.</div>
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This is my $6 bowl of soup. Taste great, but a few spoonfuls and it was gone.</div>
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We were so cold that we didn't want to linger...we quickly paid for our meal and left to warm up. Our review ~ service was good, but that was it.</div>
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So we finished off our date by going for groceries, etc. At that point we were still pretty hungry, but by 10pm, there is not much available for dining options. We were told to try Joe Beever's...which we knew was a sports bar, but we thought, "it shouldn't be busy and they said the food is really good". It was Weds. Wing night after all~ we had a wonderful Saskatoon Spinach salad and wings! Filled us up and it was good.</div>
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BUT ~ it was BUSY ~ why? "KISS" was in town...</div>
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Yup... we got to sit by KISS and eat our wings! Ha ha. I didn't go for a picture with him, but we thought it a little funny how some girls went up for quick photo and then he just sat down, drank something and started to check his messages or text or surf online and visit with his wife??? Quite the night life we had that date. Ha ha.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475504603108298660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999630.post-19995214777209879272013-08-06T12:14:00.001-07:002013-08-06T12:21:08.498-07:00The summer of the Farmers MarketFarmer's Market this summer has basically fallen into our laps. We did the first market just so there would be some vendors there and maybe others would come later. We did so well and I had so much fun being able to bake again ~ so we continued!<br />
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We have a new goal ~ get to the US and to PEI this fall ~ see friends in Pennsylvania and relatives in New Brunswick! In our family, any funds that Momma or babies can make is what we classify as "extra"...Daddy's money is for boring things (essential things) like food and housing. Our money gets to be for the little fun things! So we're working hard ~ baking, harvesting in the garden (the money I can save us on the grocery bill also helps) and sewing up a holiday! hee hee.<br />
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Kate made some feather earrings</div>
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Girl do a Lemonade stand each time. The funds went at first to buy chickens for people in Asia, now it's going to Manitoba families who are adopting children.</div>
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People were lined up to buy fresh produce from the Veggie Wagon</div>
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Afterwards we enjoy a quick dip in the lake ...</div>
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...and sometimes a left over cinnamon bun</div>
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Mini pies</div>
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Peanut Brittle</div>
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Parseman Garlic Sticks</div>
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Weather has warmed up enough that we need umbrellas to shield the food. Now to just get them to stick into the ground and not fall over!</div>
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Girls selling their homemade clips and goodies</div>
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Lots of fresh bread </div>
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Yup, I was crazy enough to do caramel and candy apples the one week. Very time consuming, so I didn't actually get as many items made. Less profits that week, but it was fun to do them.</div>
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The most delicious Caramels ever! Have to make another batch for this week!</div>
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No eating the Farmer's Market food!</div>
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The making of those delicious caramels ~ another learning curve of using a candy thermometer!<br />
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I never make cinnamon buns in a small way, but this week I actually made some MINI's!</div>
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The mini's sold really well, but yup, more time consuming once again.</div>
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Girls help me with making things pretty. They also help with all the bagging and tagging of the items we sell. Still looking for more good ideas of what to make. We're slowly getting closer to our holiday goal and also supporting some friends who are adopting older children.</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475504603108298660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999630.post-83561017450694761232013-07-30T10:59:00.002-07:002013-07-30T10:59:45.516-07:00The little red hen gets a new home!OH for the love of fresh eggs and hours quiet observation of our poultry friends ~ we have moved mountains (well, a shed) for these lil' friends of ours. Moved a beloved 8 with us from BC and now they have some more permanent digs to call their home.<br />
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So thankful for friends who have access to the right equipment to do a job like this!<br />
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Girls got to ride in a big truck!</div>
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While the lil' red hen and big red rooster worked, the lil' chick played</div>
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Lil' chick thought big roo's magnetic glove was purty cool!</div>
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We insulated and vapor barriered the shed before we put some wall panelling on the walls.<br />
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Dates were spent working on the shed-turn-coop</div>
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Lil' chicks brought out some funky weird gluten free peanut butter cookies, they were good, but very much like eating peanut butter with chocolate chips.<br />
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Making fence</div>
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This lil' chick loves power tools as much as her momma hen!</div>
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Borrowed a hole auger from a cousin and got working on the fence</div>
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Hard working helpers</div>
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The fencing needs to be within the ground so that predators can't dig underneath so easily.<br />
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He was very determined to get that lump of dirt dug up.</div>
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Watching a chicken lay an egg....<br />
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...the fresh egg</div>
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How do you ever get any work done when the hens always want to visit?</div>
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Picking up the new layers...</div>
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We ended up with 1 week old Columbian Plymouth Rock Cross chicks. They short changed us 1 chick, 1 chick had a crooked neck and there were 3 roosters out of the 35 hens. Not too impressed and will hopefully not have to order from them again.</div>
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Rosie hatched 1 chick...a little purebred Brahma</div>
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I made a make shift shade play place for them... much too hot outside!</div>
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Had to divide the shed into 2 so the younger chicks don't mix with the older group for now. They are on different feed, etc and will be combined later on.<br />
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Cool old door my man scored and is serving as the gate between</div>
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Silly rooster likes the nest</div>
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Before the divider, the broody hen Rosie is in the dog crate.</div>
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How the girls take water and scraps out to the chickens and also pick beer bottles.</div>
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Washing off the tin for the roof of the coop</div>
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Lots of prep work for the new roof.<br />
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The new divided pens</div>
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Best part about working at a brothers... you get to have little visits inbetween while you drink some root beer.</div>
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My man! I had to keep reminding him "it's only a coop, not a house!"</div>
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Silly chicks wanted to all be in the nests for night!<br />
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Working well into the evening, fighting off the swarms of mosquitoes... not much fun</div>
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Even our Dad's got into it. My Dad with the roofing, Gregg's with the dividing of the pen.</div>
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Done! Finished!</div>
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Look at this beautiful shed! We could move in!</div>
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The over hang provides some shade and a sheltered place for the feed etc.</div>
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Thanks honey for all your work... it's wonderful and all the lil' hens love it ~ poultry and human!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475504603108298660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999630.post-88541778486743343722013-07-30T10:25:00.002-07:002013-07-30T10:25:22.048-07:00Making a new garden plot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When we moved back to Manitoba, we moved to a half acre yard that essentially had nothing... but some grass and creeping charlie and LOTS of shading trees.<br />
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So what's a gal to do? Get the ole' brain thinking about "who used to till gardens?" etc and then get on the phone! Mr. E still tills gardens and he was kind enough to scrape up the sod, then till the garden area for me. NO rocks in this dirt. There is some shale on the one end, where a shed used to be. I think there may have been a garden here years ago. Then we called a cousin for a load of composting manure. Then Mr. E came and did the final tilling. <br />
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Then it was off to the Green Houses and plants were purchased. All said and done, $500 investment into making the garden and planting the seeds.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The shady yard. The garden is behind the 5 trees, a little fruit garden is in front of the 5 trees.</td></tr>
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One of the above 5 trees in a row ~ I got annoyed one afternoon at how much sunshine they were taking from my struggling raspberry row. I got out the old dull axe and 100 swings later, I was sweaty and happy ~ the tree is gone! Now I will wait for the manly man to use the chainsaw on the others. I didn't think I should cut my leg off just yet. I love my garden and all, but I need my legs as they are!<br />
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The front little garden patch that will develop into my fruit garden ~ hoping to get some strawberries, etc. I planted a black currant and 3 rhubarb plants and some raspberries so far. The beans and zucchini are just fillers for this year. They aren't doing that great, but with the trees gone they should perk up.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bye bye sun sucking tree! </td></tr>
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The southside (shady side) I had to replant a lot of lettuce, swiss chard, etc. Now that it is growing, it looks okay. Again, the trees are taking a lot of nutrients as well as sun.<br />
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Sugar snap peas, carrots, onions, potatoes.<br />
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Leeks, tomatoes, beans, tomatoes<br />
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Beans, carrots, regular peas, leeks...<br />
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Tomatoes, peppers, beans, carrots...<br />
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More beans (Kate got a few heritage ones from a friend) and there's pumpkin, squash, cauliflower, broccoli, cukes on the other side of the garden that didn't really get into the photo.<br />
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We've been self pollinating some of the pumpkins, squashes to make sure we don't get some sort of weird mix ~ a Pumpash?<br />
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Some composting bedding from the chickens, then a rain barrel beside the sod pile<br />
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The sod was pushed up and I thought ~ hum, throw in a pumpkin and a squash and see if the girls notice... I will be putting some black plastic on the rest of the pile to hopefully burn off the grass and it will be a nice compost dirt pile.</div>
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Looks like we'll be getting neighbors to the north, and this will turn into a bonafide back alley.<br />
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Cucumbers and broccoli, etc. The corn was an experiment in transplanting... we'll see... doesn't look so hot at the moment!<br />
We are eating lots of beans and peas and carrots and onions and potatoes. I don't like to buy any veggies in the store this time of year when I know I can eat from the garden. So far we've ate about $50 worth from the garden, so I only have another $450 to pay off the garden! Next year will be easier and better. Can't wait to fill the freezer with all this good organic, nutrient filled veggies for winter eating. Saves on the pocket book as well as feeding the best quality food to our bodies.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475504603108298660noreply@blogger.com0