Would you eat that?

This question is for the meat eaters out there.

We have a lamb that is butchering age. I like lamb and order it occasionally in restaurants, but cooking it myself is new territory to me. So, in a couple conversations we've had with different people about eating lamb, it has been mentioned that the lamb testicles are some of the best meat. Yes, you read that right; the testicles. As my nine year old would say, "The boys."

You know I'm frugal. We've been told the testicles can weigh up to 25 pounds. Our lamb is young so there wouldn't be quite that much meat, but there still is a fair amount there I'm sure.

You know that I'm pretty adventurous, even when it comes to food. I really will try most anything once, but testicles? I think that is something I'd prefer to not know what I was eating the first time I tried it.

We're talking about essentially free meat here that is reportedly very delicious, but would you eat it?


CAT6

A little of this and a little of that.. . .

A busy weekend, a touch of the flu and a rainy day has left me a bit unfocused today, but here are a few things going on.

It has been rainy for the better part of the last four days here. Normally that might be a cause of complaint, but I just can't argue with how green it has made everything. The trees are now fully open. I know it doesn't show up well in the photo, but my little bean seedlings that were barely popping through before the rains are now several inches tall. Though I might prefer sunny days, we sure do need a few rainy ones.

Today we are making a few things to take to a picnic tomorrow. I made guacamole with some avocados I got for $0.10 each last week! The were very green, but a week in a paper bag and they were ready to use. We are also making chocolate chip cookies. You just can't go wrong with chocolate chip cookies can you?

Crystal has a freebie list over at her site today that is of particular interest to those who homeschool.

I have a lot to do this week to get ready for some out of town guests who are coming on Monday. So I'm trying to focus today, and not doing a great job of it. I did manage to plan a few meals and make a grocery list, but that was about it. Really I don't need drug rehab. I normally am a very focused, efficient person. What I need is to not be sick. It always hits at the worst times doesn't it?

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to you.

Hoping you have a day filled with extra kisses and hugs, and feel extra appreciated and loved.

We don't normally do gifts for holidays outside of Christmas, but I suppose you could call my night away my Mother's Day gift. It was a good one! Just what I wanted and needed. If you get gifts I hope you get something that make you feel appreciated. I hope you don't get something like a new iron that implies that you need to do some work, or like a mini trampoline, which may mean someone thinks you need exercise. Well unless of course you want an item like that.

Today we actually are celebrating Nolan's fourth birthday, which is tomorrow. We will just be having family over for dinner and cake. It will be an enjoyable day.

What does your family do for Mother's Day?

Photo credit: missnoma

A Little Break

I will be taking a little break while I join my friends from Market Street Fellowship for a women's retreat. We are talking a day and a half with no cooking, no whining kids, no butts to wipe, no dishes, and no laundry. A day and a half full of fellowship and fun with people serving my food and clearing my plate while I chat it up with old and new friends. Oh yeah, I am all about that! See you here on Monday. Have a great weekend!

Rainy Day Lists

Spring is one of my favorite times of year. I love the newness of everything, the green emerging from the dead and brown. I love the planting season, the digging in the dirt, and the anticipation of the fruits of your labor. Yes, spring is probably my favorite season, but spring can also sometimes be overwhelming.

There suddenly is so much to do. There are projects to start and to finish outside. There is a garden to get it in. There is push of activities that come at the end of the school year. There is a desire to just get out and enjoy the beautiful weather, and there is a house with a winter's accumulation of dirt and clutter crying out to be cleaned and organized and share in the new shininess of spring. Where to begin?!

A few weeks ago I sat down and made two lists; one for sunny days and one for rainy days. On the sunny days list are things like repainting the patio furniture, cleaning out the storage area, and working in the garden. The rainy day list is full of inside projects; cleaning out the laundry room, the bedrooms, and my chemise drawer, organizing the school cabinet, making a list of curriculum needed for next year, and writing. Having the two lists helps to make the tasks more manageable. It helps to get it out of my brain and on paper. It keeps me from the constant running over the list in my head.

Spring is a wonderful time, but the list of projects can get overwhelming. Keeping a list helps me to manage all the tasks. Organizing the lists by the weather helps me to enjoy the spring weather and get the things done that I need to.







Photo Credit: dee_r

Vacation from Home - Playdate

Today's vacation from home day involved inviting friends over for pizza and play. It was a bit chilly, but a sunny day. We tried to push the older kids outside while we moms enjoyed quiet and warmth with the younger ones, but they weren't satisfied with that.

My dad was running some equipment, and Mary's youngest was completely fascinated by it. While we were eating, he was watching the bulldozer. We finally ventured out to take him to see the equipment up close and personal. He even got to help drive! All the kids had a good time, and it was nice just to let them play for hours!

Tomorrow we are staying home. I have some outside projects I'd like to work on if the weather cooperates. If not I have some inside projects, like writing a letter to a friend who just sent me a birth announcement for her second child. She had the cutest birth announcements. I am not sure if she made them or bought them, but they were adorable. I also have some thank you notes to write. I pulled out some thank you cards from my stash today and would you believe I still have holiday photo cards in there? Maybe I need to clean that drawer out? And if it rains, we will be playing some board games.

Thursday we are going to that loud kid place with a mouse mascot, but first we are going to a garden store and farmers market. That makes it tolerable. Friday we are going to a museum with friends. Guess I am not getting much work on projects done this week. Oh well, it is supposed to be a vacation from home, not a week to catch up on projects.

Starting the Excitement

It is day one of our vacation at home, and what excitement do we have planned? Groceries! I know big fun, but I do still have to feed this family you know!

I love staying home with the kids, but grocery days make me wish I could afford an au pair. The kids could stay with the au pair while I ran our and got the shopping done in about half the time it takes now. The au pair could teach them about their culture, and maybe even a language. Wouldn't it be nice? Well, yes, I am dreaming. What little luxuries would you indulge in if money were no matter?

While I'm enjoying my perfectly non vacation day of grocery shopping, enjoy today's guest post. It will immediately follow. Happy Monday to you!

Enjoying the Weather

After snow on Saturday, today was a lovely and sunny 65 degrees. I'm not holding my breath that it will last, but we are enjoying it while we can. Today we spent a lot of time outside, including having lunch on the deck. Our back deck is functional, but we never quite got it entirely finished off, and I don't dare say anything, since there are so many other projects that need completed first. Things like plowing the garden, and getting a fence up to keep the chickens from destroying the garden are a bit more important than having the decorative piece of the deck finished off.

As we were sitting out there I realized though we never did buy an umbrella for the table. That I can take care of. Tim and I like to go out there at night after the kids are in bed. An Adirondack Chair or two would be nice. They come in so many fun colors. I love all the colorful ones you see when at places like the Outer Banks.

This lovely weather may not last, but I'm going to enjoy it while I can.

Out Sick

After several days of tending to sick children while my husband was out of town, the germs have caught up to me. Tim came home to find his wife buried under a pile of blankets, and a tad grumpy. Thought I was feeling better this morning then it hit me again. Can't seem to get enough sleep or blankets! Hope to be back tomorrow.

Super Bowl 2008

Did you watch the big game last night? I was torn on who to cheer for. I didn't really like or dislike either team. On the one hand I tend to root for the underdog. On the other hand it would have been special to see the New England Patriots get the perfect season!

It was on here, though I can't say I was exactly watching it. I was too busy "watching" the CVS ad and the coupons, but I did catch a little of the game and a few of the ads. What did you think of the Diet Pepsi ad? It made me laugh!


I think I could use some of that today!

If you are looking to download some of those tunes to your phone, you can find What is Love and much more at PlayPhone.com. Find other fun tunes from
Busta Rymes
Missy
LL Cool J
Enigma Haddaway

I've always just stuck with basic ring tones that came with my phone, but I can see how it would be nice to have something different. It is funny when you you are in the middle of the store, your phone rings, and ten people look to see if it is their phone. I guess that would happen less if you downloaded another tune.

Anyway I had fun last night watching the Super Bowl in between coupon clipping. Tim and Kellen enjoyed it. This is the first year Kellen has really been into football. My baby is growing up!

The Popcorn Fiasco

I think my family is mildly obsessed with popcorn. A quick search of Stop the Ride showed nine (not including this one) posts that included something about popcorn. At the risk of sounding like a complete popcorn fanatic, I bring you another story about popcorn.

Encouraged by all your wonderful suggestions in Should Have Known, Tim (dh) decided to make popcorn on the stove top last weekend. I went in the kitchen and saw that he had my favorite pot on the stove, a cast iron dutch oven I picked up at a yard sale for $5. He told me he was making popcorn, and I didn't think much of it. I went back to the living room and continued to browse (drool) over my seed catalogs.

I saw him come out to the computer which is in a small room between the kitchen and the living room. Again, too engrossed in the catalogs, I didn't think much of it. The next thing I hear is my husband exclaiming a few words I shall not repeat here. I look up and see smoke rolling out of the kitchen. I hear, "What am I supposed to do with this?" I yell back, "Baking soda!" He didn't hear me.

I arrive on the scene to see him emerge from the smoke. He is coughing, and his eyes are watering. The oil in the pan caught on fire. He tells me, "I thought it would take longer than that to get hot." I bit my tongue. When I inquire about the condition and where abouts of my favorite pan, I receive the look of "is that all you are concerned about?" Um...back pedaling quickly, I ask, "Are you okay honey?" "Yes," he replies while opening the kitchen windows and sticking a fan in one.

After the smoke clears, I again inquire about the pan. He put it out on the porch to stop burning and cool off. It left a mark it was so hot. I decided to leave it be until the next day.

Have you ever had to clean up oil that has caught on fire? Let me tell you, if this were any other pot I'd throw it away. It is like playing in used motor oil. It is thick. It is black. It gets everywhere. I tried Dawn, and the hottest water I could stand, and still I can't get all the yuck off. I thought about just baking it like you do when you season cast iron, but I am afraid I will just bake in the stench, and all the food will taste like burnt oil. For now I have given up, and stuck the pan in the oven where it is out of sight, out of mind, and not getting anything else dirty. I am not sure what I am going to do with it.

In case you are wondering, we now have an air popper, courtesy of my parents.

Photo courtesy of flickr user cagedfish.

I'm Making My List, I'm Thinning it Out

Our Christmas celebrations begin on Saturday. They won't end until New Years Eve. In that time my side of the family will be here for Christmas, Tim and I will have our own Christmas day with the kids, Tim has to work for a few days, and then we will be traveling four hours for Christmas with his side of the family. All that means I have a lot of cleaning, cooking, and wrapping to do before Saturday!

It is about this time I look at my list, and start thinning it out. Just like when you plant seeds. You have to take some good things out so the remaining will be there best. None of my projects will be worthwhile if I have too many.

So, this morning I looked at the pile of recipes I had out for holiday baking. A few need made for gifts. Obviously they get high priority. I thinned out what I could bear to, and prioritized the rest. There is not way I will realistically get to all of them, but at least there is some semblance of order now.

Cleaning the house? Low priority. Picking it up and sweeping will probably be about all that gets done. Oh I better clean the bathroom.

Presents. Concentrating on the ones that need done by Saturday. The rest will wait.

Whew! I fell better now. Thanks for letting me think here!

Now if there were just some hot tubs here I'd go have a long soak!

Busy Busy

Ah what I thought was going to be a quiet and relaxing weekend to finish up some projects has turned out not to be. Of course is there really any such thing less than two weeks from Christmas? I'm not stressed, just busy!

We got a pleasant surprise yesterday. Two out of state relatives were wanting to come to visit; my aunt and uncle today and my brother and a co-worker tomorrow. We are always happy to have family visit, but it did require a change in plan for today. Instead of making cookies and other goodies as planned, I decided I might need to let some of my cleaning supplies, which hadn't seen the light of day since Thanksgiving, out for a quick tour around the house. They had been neglected since I started Christmas cooking. It is amazing how much better the house looks with a quick pick up, sweep and mop. Maybe I should try that more often?

We also picked up 14 free chickens. Ah, but that is probably a story for another time at a different blog. I did get a couple of gift packages completed, so I can check that off my list. Needless to say it was a busy, but productive day. Still have a few more things to put together before Christmas, and despite my best intentions one more gift to figure out. This person is always a tough one. This year I promised my self I would get theirs early, but obviously that did not happen. How about you? How are your holiday preparations coming along?


HDMI splitters

Big Weather Change

What a drastic change the weather has taken here. Last week it was in the 90's and the lows were in the 50's. Yesterday the high was in the mid 60's. As I sit here now, it is 36 outside. I love the change in seasons, but would appreciate a bit more of a gradual change.

We've been talking about winter preparations for awhile now. When the temperatures were in the 90's it was hard to get motivated. Now, that it is much cooler I am getting more done. I've put down storm window, changed the direction of ceiling fans, and Tim has filled in some insulation gaps.

There are still a lot of things to do. I still have vegetables in the garden, and garden clean up to do. Animals need their winter shelter. The lawn needs mowed, and soon there will be leaves to take care of. Seems like there isn't enough hours of daylight (literally) to get the work done. It is often dark when Tim goes to work and almost dark when he comes home. Maybe we need some more outdoor lighting to get the tasks accomplished.

The change of seasons is happening much too fast. I know it is mid October, and I shouldn't be complaining about fall weather. I do love fall. What I am complaining about is that it felt like summer up until the first week of October. Think my complaining will do me any good?

A Weekend Get Away?

Every year Tim and I talk about a small get away for our anniversary and every year our anniversary comes and goes with out a get away. With Tim working crazy hours lately, September is his busiest month of the year, I've been thinking we really need a get away,. Our anniversary isn't for over three months. Maybe we should go sooner, but where?

Of course I want somewhere inexpensive, and somewhere fairly close. I like the idea of a cabin or somewhere that allows you to cook. They may run a little higher per night, but the savings in being able to cook and not go out to eat, more than makes up that difference. Pigeon Forge cabin rental look nice, though they may be a tad farther than I'd like to for a weekend. There is always Amish country in Ohio, but somehow going back to where we grew up seems anti climatic. The cabins in our state parks don't look bad either. Hmmm so many choices. Do you have any recommendations within about a 4 hour radius of Huntington WV? Or any ideas on how to make a cheap get away?

Need Coffee

We pulled into Heather's about 12:15 AM today. I am whooped! Thankfully she had a full pot of coffee waiting when we got out of bed this morning. I needed it!

For years I liked coffee, but rarely drank it. When I was teaching I began to drink it regularly. When I stopped working to stay home with the kids, I started making it daily at home. I will drink a pot of day my self. I make it half decaf and tell myself I'm not addicted to caffeine!

I love coffee in any form. I like expresso made with Nespresso machines. I like the sugary flavored coffee. I like it black. In the summer I will drink my coffee hot in the morning and iced in the afternoon. I like coffee ice cream, and other coffee flavored items. I love putting coffee in Magic Milkshakes! Yum!

A laid back kind of day is planned today. As some of you commented in a previous post, it is good to get away, and have a change of pace. Even a coffee fueled change of pace.

The Simple Life Isn't Always so Simple

I think I have a romanticized vision of the simple life. When I think of the simple life, I imagine myself strolling through my gardens, leisurely tending the weeds and harvest. I think of a slow pace feeding animals, playing with and teaching my children. There is a lots of time for reflection and relaxation. Is this the picture you have?

Well, let me tell you it isn't reality or I don't have a simple life. I recently wrote to a friend that I feel like I've just traded one crazy life for another. Life is just busy regardless of whether I live in 100 Acres of Woods or in the city. It is just a different kind of busy.

The blackberries are done. They stopped producing at least two weeks earlier than last year. When they were producing, they did not produce nearly as much this year either. I had big plans for jams, shrub, and other things. I didn't even scratch the surface of the plans, and deep down I'm relieved.

All summer I've felt like I'm treading water, just keeping my head above the piling demands of kids, animals, and gardens. The beans are producing like crazy. Last count; 44 quarts canned or frozen, and that is just at my house. I'm not sure how many Mamaw has done, and I'm not counting the full paper bag of them in my refrigerator that were picked last night. I'm grateful for the bounty, I really am, but they take time. I guess cleaning beans is my time for relaxation and reflection! *grin*

I see the tomatoes just starting to come on, the wild apples and pears beginning to ripen, and wonder how I will add them to the mix of things I need to do. It will get done, I know, somehow.

This life is great. I love it, really I do. I'm just tired, and feel like I'm just holding my own. Then a week like this week comes, and I feel buried. We are going out of town this weekend for a family wedding, to see a new baby in the family and to visit with family and friends. I'm looking forward to it, but adding packing and making sure the gardens, house and animals are in order for the weekend has worn me out. Maybe I need some muscle milk to help keep me going.

And yes, here I sit whining. I should be cleaning my house, packing, cleaning beans or another of the many things that I need to do before we leave tonight. And I am going to, but before I go, I wanted to let you know if I haven't been participating much at your blog be patient with me, I'll be more active in the fall, and I will be gone this weekend so posting will probably be light. Hope you all have a great weekend!

Sunny Days, Chasing the Clouds Away. . . . .

. . . . Won't you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street

I grew up with Sesame Street. My mom says I watched it faithfully. I loved Big Bird and all the gang. Did you know that Sesame Street is older than I am? It began in November 1969! Now that is one long running T.V. show.

We don't have cable or satellite, just rabbit ears. We pick up four or five station, depending on the weather. One that comes in well is PBS, and I am glad it does. Our local station has kids programming the majority of the day. The kids don't watch a lot of T.V. but it is nice to have the option during the day. The shows on PBS are mostly educational and that makes me feel a little better when I sit them down for a little T.V. time.

It is fun to see them enjoy Sesame Street too. I hear Lydia sing the songs every now and then. The favorite character is by far Elmo. How many times have I heard the La La La La Elmo's World song, or variations of it that have been sung on the show or that the kids have made up? I'm not complaining though, it is kind of cute.

Another Sesame Street favorite is a CD-Rom game, Elmo's Preschool. I think I paid $5 for this game about five or six years ago. Kellen played it. Lydia played it. Nolan plays it, and I am wondering if it will make it for Vivian too. It has a place to make funny faces, teaches about shapes, colors, matching, letter sounds and numbers. It was a $5 well spent!

It is hard to believe Sesame Street has been around that long. It has changed some, but is essentially the same. I am glad that my kids are able to enjoy it as much as I did.

more ramblings from Tim

I was looking for new (used) cars for the family on eBay the other day and there was a nice mini van (Town and country something or other) for about $5000. I would pay over $5000ish for a new (used) car. I don't think I should have to pay that much for a car. I can't believe people pay in the thousands of dollars for just a car. I will never buy a new car. I know you never supposed to speak in absolutes like never or you always... Anyway, that's another post.

This Town and Country was out of Philadelphia , PA, and I was checking on one way flights to PA, to drive this thing back home, of course when there is flying involved, I am really dreaming because it costs a lot to fly anywhere now a days...When I was searching for flights I came across this site to book hotels in Amsterdam, Rome, and Barcelona. Now Amsterdam, I'm not to fond of, Rome, Barcelona, I might be interested in. Steph and I always wanted to travel ... oh wait, we have four kids{under 10 years old}.... It might happen in about 20 years, but I can dream for a couple minutes anyway. They had two night stays starting at$76.92. If you can get there that's not a bad way to go. The had prices ranging from $76.92 to $523.08 to$2179.00. So what ever floats your boat.*insert witty cliche here*

So if you are ever in the mood to go to Amsterdam, Barcelona or Rome, here would be a good place to start. So where was I? oh yeah I was talking about the town and country minivan that we wanted. Steph wants AWD, and two sliding doors... Anything right now will be better the that van she is driving now....

Oh the Agony!

Welcome to the first post from Stephanie's husband. I am posting today because our Internet service is out because of a terminal outage from our satellite Internet. It is going to cost us $250 to replace it because of the warranty was up in February. So Steph has no email, no posting abilities, and no Internet access from the house. She could come to my office to do her thing, or the library but as you know dragging all the kids to the library to just do computer stuff would be a train wreck. So, you may email her and I can print it out for her. She will be posting from my office at least once, I'm sure.