Working up fruits and veggies

We have been very blessed to have veggies come our way this year. Our garden did nothing except burn up. We finally decided yesterday to till it under cause it wasn't doing anything (I am convinced we will have a better one next year). Back to the veggies that have been coming our way.... We recently got a visit rom John's dad and he brought a lot with him. His mom went to Poland for a couple weeks so the veggies had been piling up instead of getting taken care of. Well he brought them my way and I had to take care of older veggies. They had to be used and stored or they would have gone bad. So Monday I had to start taking care of things.

This is what I stared with plus some green tomatoes, green peppers, and more squash in the fridge.

Monday I worked up the squash making 4 quart size bags, sliced the zucchini in disc form to fry it that made 2 bags,  and cut the okra making 4 quart size bags. Then I started on the tomatoes. I blanched them peeled them and seeded them (all by hand I don't have any fancy tools and equipment but one day I will). I boiled them down, put them through the food processer and made homemade ketchup (John does not like store bought and wanted me to make him some, so what better time). What a busy monday. 

My tomatoes some blanched and some on their way soon becoming ketchup.

Tuesday came and I got brave. John has been asking for bread and butter pickles and spiced peaches. So not knowing what I was doing I started my research (google is amazing). I ended up canning 10 pint and a half jars (all the store had was jelly/jam jars) of Peaches and 3 half gallon and 1 pint and a half of pickles. Bare in mind this is my first time canning and I did not have any special equipment. I had a stock pot, water, a stove,  a pair of tongs (not canning tongs) and some string (the half gallons were to heavy to lift with the tongs so I tied string around the top to drop and lift out of the pot. Whatever works right?).  I figured they had to do it some how before they came up with all the fancy stuff so I went for it. Well all the seals popped and they are sealed tight so whatever I did I did it right. I just hope it taste ok.

My first canning with the stock pot still on the stove and the jars continuing to cool. To bad the tongs are not in this pic but I think they are on top of the tomatoes in the other pic and I already threw the string away things I did not think of sorry

I am please with all I have accomplished. I feel like I haven't been sitting around doing nothing. I love the life of a house wife! If I was working I would not have had time for it. I did not realize the time put into canning and working up veggies. I have further respect for the Proverbs 31 women. Making things so your family can be comfortable, warm (all the nursery things I made see earlier post) and fed takes a lot of time. But it pleases me to know I am being frugal and making my husband proud and content with his decision to make me his wife.

Youth in the church

Three of our older youth (ages approximate 11, 10, 8) of the congregation started to sit on the front bench on the right during morning and the front on the left during evening services not long ago. (I sit on the second bench on the left.) So during evening services they sit on the front bench right in front of My husband ans I. The 10 year old was not up there in the evening. During the songs the 8 year old was singing and being very energetic in his song while the 11 year old was tapping his fingers on his book in time to the music "leading" the song along with the leader up front. During the lesson they were following along in their Bibles. The 8 year old, still learning were the books are, would look at his dad sitting at the far end of the bench or look back at John and me to see which way he needs to go, eventually getting to the passage just to turn to another one, but he never got (too) discouraged. I watched them a lot during this service (trying very hard to stay focused on the lesson)   I could not help but think through the whole services of the children who were brought to Jesus in Matthew 19:13-15 while being rebuked by His disciples (which they did a lot...hmm) he let them come and laid hands on them, I think this was to bless them. He took time out of his ministry to pay attention to the children. In verse 14 it says "for of such is the kingdom of heaven." When I read this I think Christ is saying they are the future of the church (if I am wrong about what this means please let me know this is just how I interpret what Christ is saying but still wonder if this is what it actually means). These children must learn from a young age about Christ and we must "bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord" Ephesians 6:4.


These children encourage me to pay attention more and to have hearts like theirs. It reminds me of when I first became a christian and the zeal I had. Sometimes I have to re-evaluate myself and return to that beginning zeal. We need to be like these youth, in their innocence, humbleness and zeal to be like the adults serving Christ. When we do this we will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:1-5  "At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” ² Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, ³ and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me." 

I know this is very random in thought but I would like to encourage all to evaluate themselves and start this week with zeal, humility, and a goal to serve God with all our might, encouraging and being an example to all those around us.

My Friday In....

John ans I had discussed what we were going to do one Friday night. I really wanted to go out and do something. I did not want to just go eat somewhere I wanted to go out, have some good clean fun, stay out late, you know all those things you did as a teenager. John wanted to just stay home. He did not feel like doing anything and he was tired from a long day/week of work. He said all right but I knew he really did not want to. So I decided we would stay home and do it some other night. I would cook at home and we would spend an evening on the couch. This did not take a lot of convincing for him to except. To tell the truth I was very disappointed. I was thinking about it all day, it was Friday after all and we don't go places very often anyway. But I swallowed all the feelings and thought how appreciative John probably was  for me to cook him dinner and have a nice quiet evening with him. So I set to work. I did not know what we were going to eat, everything was frozen I did not prepare for anything so I finally found can tamales and decided to make a cheese sauce to go over it and we would have rice to go with it and a can of veggies (the best dinner all week in my opinion it was amazing) I started the sauce when John comes into the kitchen and hugs me from behind and kisses my cheek (I love it when he does this). He says he will be back he needs to run to town for a minute and asks does he have enough time. I was just starting so I figured yes no problem. He left and I got back to work. I finished supper and was setting the table when John got back. He came into the kitchen and since I was "hard at work" I was not paying attention to what he had. He stops me and on the counter was a 12 pack of A&W root beer (my favorite soda of all time). He turns toward the counter  to open the soda up and there in the back of his pants was a 3 rose bouquet. He turns back around smiles and pulls the roses out gives me a huge hug, kisses the top of my head and thanks me for cooking supper and staying in tonight. 

Sometimes we may give up our plans for the ones we love, but the out come can be better than the original plans. I had a wonderful night with John and I felt like we were dating again. We watched a movie and I sat in the middle of the couch holding his hand through the whole thing. Then we had dessert together after. This evening could not have been planned as perfect as it was. We didn't even have to walk out the front door.

These were taken 2 or 3 days later so flowers are kinda droopy and a lot of soda missing. Flowers were beautiful and very fragrant. 

John later asked me what I liked more the root beer or the flowers. I could not decide. John said that is why he loved me so much because root beer is just as good as flowers to me. 

My dad and his trash

I get a call last Thursday from my daddy. He does not call very often, so scratching my head and pondering what it is that he could be needing, I answer the phone. He asks how I'm doing (which has been a ritual of his every time he sees or talks to me due to pregnancy) then he asks do I need long folding tables. (I am so confused as to what he is talking about) I answer him (still confused as to exactly what he is talking about) I always need folding tables and he goes on to explain that they are old wooden folding tables, nothing wrong with them. A lady was cleaning out her basement and threw out two long wood tables (kinda like school cafeteria tables). So he thought of me and saved them so I could have them when I had groups of people over to my house. (Also,  for anyone who does not know, my daddy works for the sanitation department.) This is not the first time he has done this. When I had moved out of my parents home about 6 years ago he found a toaster oven never been used still in packing from a store. then about two years ago or so he found me a table with 6 matching chairs. All that was missing was a screw for one of the chairs. One run to Lowe's and I had a perfect set. This was also still in the box never been assembled. Then my car seat and bouncer chair for Amos came from his findings. The car seat had a water stain on it but i washed it up and it looks brand-new. Dad saved them and talked to the guy before it even hit the curb. The guy had it for his grandkids and it was only used a hand full of times and had no use for it now.

one table is about 9' and the other is about 12'. that is my best guess since I did not have a tape measure

the 9' set up. they do need cleaned up still.

Some of you may know this table. I have had many people sitting around it. Now it is a place to put stuff until I find a place for the things. I have a bigger table in the dinning room, I received it from my granny. But I have six matching chairs with this table

The toaster oven has been well used and works great. if you were to see it in person it looks older than it is cause it is used sooo much.

Car seat has base with it and there is winnie the pooh characters on it.

 This bouncer does not play music but it does vibrate. Which I can get a radio and play music if I want it. It looks like it has never been used.

I remember as a kid a lot of things coming into the house that daddy found. Some brand-new/never used, some in like new condition, and some things broke that were fixed or used to fix something else we had and just needed one thing too fix. He even brought home soda that a plant gave him that was out of date (no it was not in the trash) and different things like that. We did not have much money and things but my daddy always made sure we had everything we needed, and when he brought home the next big find us kids (there are 5 total)  thought we were the richest family in the world.

It is true when they say one mans trash is another mans treasure. At least their trash is our treasure!

All I need is Amos

Wow it is finally together!!! The nursery is now ready for our little bundle of joy. After making the crib set and curtains, finding a dresser(a little bigger than I wanted but works), and putting things in the perfect spot, I finally got the results wanted (I think). 

From her I will show you before and after. some of the pictures are not of best quality but give the general idea. Also, to really see it you have to be here. Pictures(in my opinion) do not do it justice.

Before entering the room: 

We tried for 6 months before we found out we were expecting. So this verse I felt very appropriate to have somewhere in my house. It was nothing like Hannah had to go through but, we were very emotionally towards he end. 

As you go into the room: 

I did not get a before picture of this but the changing table used to be in this corner when I first started out. I decided I really wanted the pictures ont he wall. Also, you may see the curtain tie backs on the chair. I need to get hooks to put them on the wall. then there is a small closet to the right. I hoped to put the dresser in there but it was too big. On the door is a "door muffler" this thing prevents the dor from making a lot of noise if it needs to be shut or opened for some reason while the child is sleeping.

The window:

THis is a huge double window practically floor to ceiling.  It looks out in to the front yard and Now I have bird things there so I can enjoy the view. Although Toothless (my cat) thinks he belongs there. 

The left wall opposite the rocker and closet:

The room had no organization. It had barney sheets and an old quilt for when I had watched a friends son (I couldn't let him sleep on just the mattress). Then the crib and table became a storage place for all the things I had received before I knew what I was doing. The dresser was a curb freebee so it had the vinyl peeling off and scuff marks all over it. nothing that a few cans of spray paint and a lot of work from John could not fix. Now all the things in the crib and on the table are nicely placed in the closet, the dresser is in the corner and clothes are put away according to size (for now). With the name on the wall it makes me feel like the room belongs to someone. And a little close up of the blanket. It was made out of left over material 9just an after thought).

The last wall:

The changing table has a matching cover to the pad and the boxes for storage (bibs, blankets, and diapers since i'm doing clothe on for liners and one for the covers).the monkey came from John's grandma so it had to go somewhere. The bottom shelf has all the blankets I have received so far. most of them were made by John's great grandmother and a couple I made. this is where I would like to put a saying "boy 1. n noise with dirt on it" but I do not know how I want to do it. 

After Amos is here I want canvas pictures of him and some family to put on the wall above the dresser and in other random places. but that will have to wait for now. Until then I am done and anxiously awaiting my little boy.

Menu planning

Every time the young ladies get together the conversation always ends up at dinner, shopping and never knowing what to cook. It' different for all families. Some need to plan because they have a full time job, some have kids or are expecting a child (thats me), and some are just trying to save MONEY (oh thats me too). 

I have been menu planning since around June of last year. I started with a two week schedule. I would plan a two week menu, write out a shopping list (try my best to stick to it) and shop the Friday John got paid. Then we moved, now Aldi and Wal-Mart is no longer just down the street. Soooo.... I go shopping once a month now when I have my doctor appointments. Since I only go to Rolla once a month I had to get more organized and make sure I get everything I need while I'm there (Country Mart is just so expensive). 

I started by writing down all the meals John and I like (I think I came up with 28).

I then separated everything all meals into their respected categories (Chicken, Beef, Pork, etc....). After that I divided/numbered them between 2 menus making sure there was a variety of things in each menu. 

Then made it in menu form. I made two menus so I had different things each month.

I only planned for 5 days a week, hoping for left overs. Also, 2 menus give variety without having to plan one menu for each month. 

Then made a shopping list for each menu. All I have to do is go to the cupboard and see what I need and how many and put a number next to the list.

Also made a list of all the everyday things.

Then typed it all up. Now all that needs to be done is print off everything and go.

 There is a page of sides I came up with also.

 Well here it is. Use what you want, disregard anything or everything. This has helped me save money (less trips to the store so no impulse shopping) and now I know what I'm cooking the next day so if I'm busy there is no planning (it's already done). I do not feel obligated to stick with the menu. If something else on the list sounds better I will switch the days. 

The main advice I have is have fun and don't stress!! Hope this helps you in some way. If you need help or any recipes I would be more than happy to help (if I don't know or have it, I will find it).

Happy planning!!!!!!!!!