2008 June

menu planning monday

June 30, 2008 · by Penny · 2 Comments

I found a new meme to join up with! It is usually hosted at organizing junkie but from what i understand she is unplugged and out of town, you know one of those occasions guys like to call vacations. Things are a little different now that my youngest is 5 and my youngins plan and prepare the outings. But back in those ‘lots of little people days” my dear hubby just never could understand why oh why I couldn’t get excited about relaxing while camping with a newborn, 2yr old, 3 1/2 yr old and a 5 yr old. I mean I adore my children but dirt, diapers, sleeping on the ground, sweat, lunchmeat, chips, ticks, snakes, mosquitoes, and well ya know, uhh, that is anything but relaxing to me. Anyway, I am getting seriously side tracked. Back to the meme, this week it is hosted at heavenly homemakers . From what I understand, we are supposed to share our weekly menu. Well since menu planning is something I like to teach my daughters I will gladly join in. We usually have a general plan for the week, Georgia plans it with my help. We might switch days around but this is the general plan. If i get really on the ball I might try to add recipes.

Monday- homemade spaghetti, salad from our garden, homemade garlic breadsticks

Tuesday- steak and veg teriyaki stir-fry with rice

Wednesday- ground beef gravy over potatoes and squash on the side

Thursday- creamed chicken and noodles with broccoli

Friday- burgers, hot dogs, potato salad- hubby thinks anything else on a holiday is illegal

Saturday- spaghetti , salad, bread again

those are the plans anyway- pretty much everything homemade

Filed Under: home sweet home, income and outgo, loving my children, thoughts & ponderings ·

the smells of home

June 30, 2008 · by Penny · 2 Comments

My mornings consist of starts. If I just get things started, I can stop and come back, but if I don’t at least start it I can get side tracked. So while I was starting things I could smell this incredible smell coming from the kitchen. Hannah was at it again. This morning shw was making fruit muffins. Banana muffins, blackberry muffins, apple muffins. All three, Hannah does things big. Give Hannah ingredients and she cooks. Who cared what kind of muffins they were, they smelled wonderful! Nothing smells like home more than baking smells coming from the kitchen. This homey smell makes my home a haven!

Filed Under: family, home sweet home ·

God is not slow

June 28, 2008 · by Penny · Leave a Comment

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

Filed Under: word of the day ·

making family memories

June 27, 2008 · by Penny · 3 Comments

Last Saturday, we had a spontaneous family outing. It involved a

picnic, (homemade chicken salad sandwiches, bananna bread, fruit, ice tea, all spread on a beauitiful table cloth, compliments of homemaker Hannah)

fishing, paddle boats, playing in the creek, walking, seeing wildlife, history lessons, a country drive, and more. All for free. Well, almost free, the gas was $20 and the paddle boat rental was $1.75 We could have all squished in the car instead of the truck and done it for less gas.

We first went to our church and cleaned and touched up paint and did some more maintenance, then drove to our local state park. State parks are wonderful free entertainment.

This is probably our favorite summertime activity and is afforable. How is that for a frugal Friday tip? Now if we could just find a way to go to the Sherrifs Rodeo next week for free

:( want to make some hard working ministers happy? umm my paypal address is ……. pennyraine@bellsouth.net

Filed Under: family, home sweet home, income and outgo, life in the country ·

yummy summer salad

June 26, 2008 · by Penny · Leave a Comment

this is quick and easy, I will give you the basics and you can figure out the amounts according to your family size

rainbow colored pasta, my favorite is called wacky mac, (click here for coupon) different shapes and colors

chicken breasts

ranch dressing

diced onions, tomatoes, green peppers

ok, cook and drain and cool pasta, then cook and cool and dice chicken,

then put it all in a big pan or bowl and combine chopped veggies, pasta, chicken and drressing, put in fridge till serving time and then serve with croutons, and maybe some bacon bits

easy and fast, and yet filling enough for Beau, who is a bottomless pit

Filed Under: home sweet home, income and outgo, thoughts & ponderings ·

heaven on earth!

June 25, 2008 · by Penny · 7 Comments

For those of you who live in the country or ever want to live in the country this is a complete Wordless Wednesday pic

For the rest of the deprived world I will explain. In one word BLACKBERRIES! The absolute hi-light of living in the country is blackberry season. we will brave chiggers, ticks, snakes, hi temps and unbearable humidity to get these delectible berries. I have no doubt this was the fruit that tempted Eve. I was going to share about our day at the park Saturday but then two of my girls came in with a gallon of these and I just had to announce the big news, Blackberry season is upon us!!! And since this is proving to be the most fruitful fruit year I have seen in seasons we are gonna have fun. Blackberry ice cream, blackberry jam, blackberry cobbler. yummmmm yep, Works for me! Stay tuned for the rest of the story.