WHAT A WEEK!

And Woo Hoo!!! We have POWER!

First, we had a fabulous weekend at the lake. Doug and I went with friends of ours, sans kids, Friday-Sunday afternoon. We had a FABULOUS TIME! We ate and drank our way through the weekend. We went dancing. We played cards. We had donuts for breakfast Sunday morning on the boat! It was a fabulous weekend! Although it POURED down RAIN!

So we came home on Sunday evening at 6pm. At 7pm the power went out. The power came back on THURSDAY afternoon at 2pm! The people across the street had power. The people behind us had power. We did NOT have power!

So thankfully my FIL had a 5000 watt generator. We put $20 a day in that baby, and locked it in the garage at night. We ran our refrigerator and freezer, alternately all day. We gave an extention cord to the neighbor so they could run their refrigerator.

We also did 1 load of laundry. Because between 6 and 7pm Sunday evening I started a load of wash (so Doug could have clean cloths for work this week!) AND did you KNOW? That a Whirlpool Duet front load washing machine, once it starts the cycle and the door locks, the door DOES NOT OPEN if there is NO ELECTRIC! So my clothes were trapped! But we plugged it into the generator and did the load. Otherwise, we took care of the food.

We did all right though. We have a gas water heater, so were able to have hot water. We have city water, so had water period. My in-laws do not have water when there is no power since they have a well and need to run the pump. We have a gas stove. I was able to use a lighter to ignite the burners. I could not figure out how to ignite the oven though. But we had a full tank of propane on the grill, so that was great!

We had a package of batteries from Sam's leftover from camping last June. So we had plenty of batteries for the flashlights. I scrounged up candles. Did you know that when you think a candle stub will burn out, it will still go for another hour or so? I learned a lot of stuff while the power was out.

1. I do NOT have wash and go hair :::snort:::

2. It is hard to play cards by candlelight.

3. It is all the way dark in the house at 7:30 pm. By 9pm, people are TIRED and WILLINGLY go to bed!

4. We rely way too much on electronic entertainment!!

5. I missed the internet a LOT!

We tried to school. Isaac and Allen did much more than Jordan.

6. Algebra takes a LOT longer when you can't have the kids watch the lecture CD. And my boys are using Saxon AND TT. One each. Twice as long for me!

Monday they did school. Tuesday they went to my in-laws and worked like dogs for 8 hours cleaning up trees and limbs. Wednesday Jordan went to the cabin to get the chainsaw for my dad, and then he and Isaac went to the Blue Man Group concert. So no school for him that day. He isa falling way behind. Not a great way to start his last year of school!

Next week we are taking the week off to go to the lake. One last Hooruh! before the season is over. Then the 29th is Isaac's 16th birthday, so no school. But come the 30th, we will be hitting it HARD!!!!

So that's us the past week or so. How about you?

A GREAT Recipe Blog!

My Sonlight friend, Bethany, has a fabulous new blog with tons of recipes.

Check it out.

For The Love of Grub

We have finished the first week of our 12th year of home schooling!

WOW! My kids are getting old :::snort::: We just started our 12th home school year. Jordan will graduate this year! That is such a bitter-sweet thing. I've been doing a lot of pondering on his last year at home. Very deep stuff.

So anyway, we started school on Wednesday. We did school Wednesday - Friday, and only math and science. I was whipped on Friday! I am very glad we decided to ease into things slowly this year. Next week we will be doing a full schedule of school.

But we have spent the summer staying up late and sleeping in. I've only been sleeping in until 9am, but gosh, some of these boys will sleep until 11 or later.

So starting easy to get into a routine was more important to me than doing it all from the first.

It went really well! I hope this is a good sign of a great year to come. I could really use a good year.

Everybody was up by 7:45 and downstairs doing chores by 8. Allen did get up at 7 so he could do chores and then work out before breakfast.

School started at 9 and everybody was finished with their work and discussions with me/correcting work by lunch.

We eat our dinner at noon, so I cooked on Wednesday. Thursday we went to the lake after lunch (which was McDs) and yesterday Doug came home.

It feels good to be getting back into a routine, even though I am doing it kicking and screaming this year. I just wasn't ready to start. But we will keep on doing the next thing :)

Tomato Soup! I just love homemade tomato soup. Here are two fabulous recipes for you to try!

Tomato soup (from cuisineathome.com)

Roast 5 lb tomato
6 garlic cloves
1/4 c olive oil
salt & pepper

at 450 for 40 minutes, until very soft

Saute 1 c onion in 2 T oil 5 minutes

Stir in 2 c water
2 t sugar
1/2 t salt
1/4 t red pepper flakes

Stir in tomato mixture

Bring to boil, reduce heat, simmer 10 minutes

Puree until smoothStir in 1/2 c. heavy cream with a spoon (I was not running to the store, so I used 1 c. 1% milk)

Garnish with fresh basil

This recipe made about 11 c. of soup for me. Using the 1c. 1% milk, the entire recipe has about 15 points. 1 C = about 1 WW point


Creamy Tomato Soup (from my gramma. Very yummy with home canned juice)

1/4 c. butter
1/4 c. soft white whole wheat flour (Gramma uses white)
2 c. milk (I use skim or 1%)
4 c. tomato juice
salt, pepper and Italian seasonings to taste

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour, salt and pepper. Cook and stir 1-2 min., until flour is browned. Gradually whisk in milk. Whisk and cook until thick and bubbly. Whisk in tomato juice and Italian seasonings. Cook until warmed through.

Yield: Slightly more than 6 c.
1 c. = 3 WW points

It's been a busy summer!!! And new additions to our family.........

It's been too long since I've blogged. De'Etta linked to my blog a couple weeks ago, and well, I better blog if people are going to be coming, eh?

Since I've last blogged I've been so busy! Summer has flown by and now it's time to think about start school and getting back into somewhat of a normal routine........

In July I drove to the other side of PA and hopped a ride with my girlfriend and we went on to VA to visit another girlfriend. I met both these ladies on the Sonlight forums. They came campign with us in June! We were going to a pool party meet-up in VA, where I met many, many great ladies and their cute kiddos! We had a great time staying with Dana. We stayed up too late, got up too early, and had such a great time.

We've spent a lot of time at the lake. The cabin has not yet sold, though it is still on the market. We spent a few nights on different weeks then stayed the entire first week of August like we always do. Doug had to work until Thursday, and it was not so much fun vacationing without him. Jordan had to work some and so he came back and forth. My family is growing up and moving on and it is weird. It is Jordan's last year of school and it seems we just started hs'ing. We'll be starting our 13th year on Sept. 3rd!!! WHERE did the time go?

My friend Jen moved from one part of PA to another, and so I drove my big teen boys out to help her husband unload the truck. Isn't it great when your imaginary friends help you move??

I organized a SL meet-up at a local lake in Aug., and that was great fun. Jen and her kids came from PA to stay with us and go to the meet-up. I just love that I have real friends that live in my computer :)

And I've gone to visit Jen for a few days, which was again so much fun.

Doug and I are still adjusting to his crazy work schedule. It's been 1 1/2 years, and you'd think I'd be used to it. I guess I am, but I am going through a period of it being really hard and really hating it. God is stretching me right now, and I am resisting. I'd like my old life back, thank you very much LOL.

Five weeks ago we had 5 new additions to our family. Lilly had another litter of kittens. That brings our cat total to TEN!!! We do not want ten kitties and are trying to find them homes, although not very successfully. I'm not sure what we're going to do with them.

But they are pretty darn cute! They are now out of the box and walking all over, learning to eat and use the litter box and are pretty much toddlers.

Lilly's first litter is now 5 months old. We need homes for them, too.

So we have Buddy our 5 year old kittie, Lilly the mama kitty, Newman (g), Shadow (b) and Leroy (b) the five month old kitties and George (b), Jerry (b), Kramer (b), Phil (b), and Yaya (g) the 5 week old kitties. If you notice a Seinfeld theme going on, you are correct :::snort:::

Here are the kitties at about 3 weeks learning to walk.
A basket full of kitties. They love to lay in the sunrays.
Newman, the 5 month old kittie, decided she is NOT too old to nurse!!! Only in my house would we have tandem nursing kitties LOL.
So that is life here. How is life where you are??

Crazy/Busy Monday!

We have had a busy, wonderful, crazy day! It is day FOUR of no rain :cooldude: That is reason enough to be happy ;)

So what did we do?

I stopped by RiteAid for some hair color. I'm in a mood LOL.

Took Allen to golf.

Came home and colored my hair, got food together and packed the swim bag.
Isaac and I picked Allen up from golf and went to my sister's for a visit. She got a new pool last week. Mom and my other sister, her kids and my BIL were there. The kids swam, we ate and chatted and then hopped in the hot tub (twice ;)). We had a fabulous time visiting! We've decided we need to visit every Monday!

Jordan went to get a friend and they joined us there.

Came home (friend is spending the night with Isaac) and Jordan went to work.

I washed wet stuff in my own washer :cooldude: and hung it on the line :)

Showered and ran to the grocery store for some stuff.

Made guacamole and then some nachos with Bethany's refried beans without the refry. Those are YUMMY!

While we were eating, friends of our stopped by. The daughter was out getting in driving hours, so they stopped by (the friend spending the night is her boyfriend). So I invited them all in (girl, mom, brother) and we had a nice visit while they waited for other dd and dh to finish up VBS practice.

Chatted on the phone with two friends this evening :)

Watched Jon & Kate Plus 8.

I'm crocheting a baby blanket for the neighbor, so I worked on that.

Cleaned the kitchen a few times.

I'm tired. Oh, I talked to Doug about 10 times.

Oh yeah, I finished getting stuff together for the boys' assessment tomorrow.

Then I made an appt. for a hair cut in the morning before the assessments. I need a trim before the VA Pool Party LOL. I'm not thrilled with my color, but it is OK.

So what did you do today??

How are you celebrating Independence Day?

It was a crazy/busy morning, but the rest of the day will be relaxing :)

Doug didn't get to come home yesterday, but he was home at 7:45 this morning. We were all still sleeping :)

So we woke up and decided to divide and conquer. I had to go to the laundromat and wash clothes. The washer is dead and beyond repair. The dryer is now working :)

So Isaac and I went to the laundromat and did 4 loads of wash (well 6 really, but they have huge washers there!).

Doug and Allen went to Sam's Club.

Jordan went to the grocery store.

We were done with all errands within 45 min. :)

I dried 2 loads and hung the rest on the line. I had to hang 1/2 and then switch.

Jordan has to work at 2, so we had a cookout early.

We set to putting away the food. Allen made brownies. I made the burgers, chopped veggies and cut the watermelon. Isaac set the table. Doug grilled.

We had a nice meal and then cleaned up.

Doug, Isaac and Allen just left to meet my FIL at the golf course. Jordan will work until 6:30 and I'm going to take a nap.

We'll head to the fairgrounds to watch fireworks with friends this evening.

I am so thankful to all the people that fought for our independence and have fought to defend our independence through the years. Thank you to each and every military family for your sacrafice for our country!

Iced Mocha

1 1/2 c. strong hot brewed coffee
3T packed light brown sugar
2 T chocolate syrup
1 c. ice cold milk
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
Ice
Whipping cream and shaved chocolate for garnish

Combine the hot coffee and brown sugar in a large measuring cup and stir until the brown sugar dissolves. Stir in chocolate syrup. Chill.

Comebine with 1 c. cold milk, stir and serve over ice.

I double this recipe and store it in the refrigerator in a 1 qt. Mason jar. When I'm ready to drink it, I stir in the milk (I always forget the vanilla) and pour over ice.

I have put it in the blender with ice, but I don't like it that way as well. It separates or something. It is yummy over ice though :)

Canda Fishing Trip Pictures!!

My dad took Jordan and Isaac to Canada for a week of fishing a couple weeks ago. My uncle, his 14 year old grandson, my cousin and his friend also went. They had a great time! Jordan caught the biggest fish of the group, a 14 lb, 37", Pike! That is a big fish!

Isaac

Isaac and a bear at the restaurant
Jordan with a stringer of fish
Playing some pool

The view from their deck at the cabin
Jordan and the big pike!
Isaac, Nick, Jordan and a bunch of fish!
A day's catch
Dad, Jordan, Isaac and the pike

Corn Bread

1 c. flour
1 c. cornmeal
2T sugar
1T baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 c. milk
2 eggs

Combine dry ingredients. Stir in wet ingredients until well moistened.

Heat iron skillet on stove top, melting 1T shortening, butter or oil (fat of your choice). Pour batter into hot pan.

Bake at 425* for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

Spicy Red Beans & Rice (from Southern Living, March 2002)

2 lb. dried red kidney beans
5 bacon slices, chopped
1 lb. smoked sausage, cut into 1/4 inch slices (I used turkey kielbasa)
1/2 lb. salt pork, quartered (didn't use this at all)
6 garlic cloves, minced
5 celery ribs, sliced
2 green bell peppers, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
2 32-oz. containers chicken broth
2 c. water
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground red pepper
1 tsp. black pepper
I also added cumin and Pampered Chef southwest seasoning
Hot cooked rice

Soak kidney beans overnight, or do a quick sock by covering beans with water 2" above beans, bring to a boil. Boil 1 minute; cover, remove from heat, and let stand 1 hour. Drain and continue with recipe.

Saute bacon in Dutch oven over medium-high heat for 5 min. Add smoked sausage and salt pork, saute 5 min. Add garlic, pepper, onion and celery; saute 5 minutes or until veggies are tender.

Stir in beans, broth, 2 c. water, and seasonings; bring to a boil. Boil 15 minutes; reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 3 hours or until beans are tender. Remove salt pork before serving. Serve over rice.

I made 1/2 of this and it made about 2 quarts. I will serve it with corn bread.

So the weekend is over.

It's always sad in my house on Sunday afternoons. Well, I'm sad. Doug goes back to work. I love having him home all weekend.

I am thankful that the 4th is a Friday this year. So that means Doug will be home Thursday when he finishes up for the day, and we get a 3 day weekend :)

We had a busy and nice weekend.

Friday:

Doug took apart the washer and replaced the pump. YEA!!! I was happily doing a load of wash, the washer was spinning, the water was pumping and then BANG! and it stopped! Hmmmm, well, the inner drum (of my 5 year old washer!) became unbalanced somehow and blew a 2" chunk out of the outer drum. So the washer is broken. Of course it is not under warranty UGH. We do have a friend that repairs appliances, and will order us parts at cost ($300+!). I am irriated that we have to do such major repairs on a 5 year old washing machine. I'd love to replace it, but not sure we can swing that.

He also took apart the drier. There was a bad coil in the ignitor or some such thing like that. So now we have flame. The problem is the flame is not being sucked towards the back, but is coming out the front. Our friend will help us fix that too.

So right now my MIL is doing wash for us. We took the laundry, and a fresh blueberry pie, to her house Friday evening. I washed/dried a load and she finished the other 2 loads for me :) She is a great women! We enjoyed pie and had a nice evening talking. Doug also fixed the lawn mower while we were there and tried to fix the weed eater.

I'm not sure why everything is breaking UGH. The TV is on the fritz, too. We are going to try to have it repaired once again. But not sure he can do that!

Saturday we slept in. Then Doug and I went to ScaryMart (WalMart) for weekly shopping. I just do NOT like that store. But I did not want to go to the produce store, the grocery store and Sam's Club, so we did a one stop shop. We came home, unloaded and put away.

Then we went to Chipotle and Coldstone for a little lunch date and then to Sears to see if we could have anything done about the washer. We came home with a direct phone number to someplace in Columbus. Doug will see what he can do about that on Monday.

We came home and took a nap. Then we went to Jordan's best friend's graduation party. It was a nice time, even though it rained and rained. It has been raining forever it seems. We've been having lots and lots and lots of rain! I need some sunshine please ??

Jordan and Isaac stayed at John's house overnight.

Doug and I had a little dancing date. I was whipped so we came home early.

Today was prep Doug's food, pack his clothes, blah blah blah. We did have a nice meal and everybody was here! I remember when the kids were little and we were at a hs'ing convetion and one of the speakers talked about family meals. HELLO! We eat 21 meals together every week, 4 or 5 dinners Dad makes it home.

Now it seems like nobody is here for meals. Doug is only home Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon. Jordan works or Jordan and Isaac have to be at the church, or somebody is at a friend's house. So strange!

So we had a lovely meal of chicken tacos for the guys and refriend beans and fresh guacamole for me.

Then Jordan and Isaac went with a friend (I barely had them long enough to eat LOL) to The Guitar Center. I did some cleaning. Allen did some computer stuff. The boys came home and then left to go to my MIL's with a load of laundry. They hung out there and played games and are now on their way home with wet clothes for me to hang in the basement.

Oh, I also set my comments to be moderated. I'm not getting email notifications of comments posted and I am missing lots of them :( So I thought perhaps this may fix that problem. So I'll do that for now until I figure out why I am not getting email notifications :)

So how was your weekend?

We've been at the lake the last few days!



Monday we went to the lake. Isaac's friend, Zach, came with us. Jordan came back and forth as he had to work. My Gramma also came with us.



We had a fabulous time! We were there 3 days and it only rained 2 of them LOL! But not all day thankfully.



The first day was nice, but looked like rain, and we did have a storm that night. Isaac and Zach fished in the little boat. Isaac caught a 24" walleye (which is now tucked into the neighbor's freezer). They also caught bass, striper, catfish, perch and bluegill. They released most of those.



Tuesday we went out on the boat. It was gorgeous! See that blue sky and puffy clouds? We enjoyed having Gramma with us on the boat. Isaac drove us around some..............
Here's Jordan fishing. I can only get pictures of his back it seems like..................

Tuesday evening it was gorgeous. Jordan was working. Isaac and Zach were fishing. So we had a fire and made s'mores. Here's Gram roasting her marshmallow (she didn't grab the camera to get my picture, so you get lots of her :) )
The gorgeous sunset Tuesday evening.
Today the guys went to Linesville, PA and fished the carp. There is a fish hatchery there. Many people come and feed the carp. They are SO GROSS! They just pile on top of each other and scarf down the bread!

You cannot fish in the hatchery, but just on the other side of the line, you can. You bait your hook with bread and cast your line just ouside the boundaries of the nursery waters. Then somebody else lures them over by tossing more bread in. You can pull out some huge fish that way! We just catch/release the carp.

While the guys fished the carp, Gram and I lazed around.................
We had a fabulous time! I am very glad to be home, though :)

My guys are home from Canada!

They had a great time. They are full of stories and also brought me 6 loads of smelly fish laundry :::snort::: I am diligently trying to get them done.

The drier is dead. So I promised them clean laundry, even if it is not dry. (Mom, we bought the drier when I was pregnant with Allen. You're right that the washer is only a few years old!). The washer is being persnickity! I have 5 loads left to do and have been working on it for 2 hours UGH.

So that's that for tonight :)

A Lovely Weekend!


Of course, it went too fast, as weekends always do. The weeks drag on and the weekends fly. I love every second with my honey, though.



So Friday Doug couldn't find his keys. So I drove out to the shop (30 min. or so) to give him a set and we came home. Allen tried to mow the lawn, but we are having mower problems! Three of them have quit working, in the exact same spot! A lawn mower demon or something ::::snort:::: The neighbor is letting us borrow his (although it is now raining). I warned him about our problem and he said, "If it breaks, it breaks!" LOL.



So then we packed up and went to the lake for the evening. Doug and Allen mowed the lawn there. The mowers there worked great! But when we brought one home to use, it didn't LOL!



We had dinner and then a lovely evening on the lake. We worm fished. We bass fished. Well, the guys did and I read a book and made a grocery list. Then we went for a ride.


Doug and Allen went to get gas for the boat and a stop at the DQ! We sat on the swing and enjoyed the quiet and the view and being together. Then we headed home.



Saturday was a lazy morning sleeping in and lounging around. Then we did some grocery errands. I took a nap while Doug and Allen washed, inside and out, both vehicles.



I packed up the picnic basket and we ordered pizza and headed out to the park. Doug was running sound for one band and then we were going to leave there to go hear another one and dance. Allen went home with my in-laws (they came to the concert) for the night.



Well, at 5:30 it was gorgeous and sunny and blue skies with a slight breeze. They set up and at 6:30 were finished with their sound check. They were to start at 7. At 6:30, the skies were still blue but a storm was coming, but it looked far off! Certainly they'd finish (at 8:30) before the storms came.



Nope, at 6:55 the storms rushed in, the people left, they packed up and went to their next gig.



So Doug and I were quite early for the dancing band. But that was OK. We talked with bunches of people and didn't have to pay a cover :) We had a fabulous time dancing the night away and met a couple interesting guys from Austria here for some work.



This morning Doug went to my in-laws' house to get Allen for church. We prepped Doug's food and packed him up and got Allen all ready for youth camp. They left about 2:30. Isaac and Jrdan are making their way home from Canada. They should be here any time. I took a nap.



It is raining again. I don't know where summer is, but it certainly isn't here! It's been chilly and rainy most of the year, since the snow quit in April! We did have one hot week, and thankfully it was while we were camping! But gosh. If you have summer at your house, please send it to me :)



I just finished making food for tomorrow's Mexican night. We're having tacos. I made the taco beef, refried beans and some Spanish rice. I'll make the guacamole tomorrow :) We're heading to the lake. My Gramma is coming with us. It will be a nice visit I am sure.



So how was your weekend?

Not much happening today!

Jordan and Isaac are still in Canada.

Allen had church stuff from 9-2:30ish.

I tried to do laundry. I did a couple loads. The washer is not working properly, but not all the time. The last 2 loads I've done have spun out perfectly. This load did not spin out, so I have to take out 1/2 of the load, spin, repeat :)

The drier is not heating, either. So I am happily hanging the wash. I like hanging clothes on the line. But our weather has been cold, dreary and threatening rain. I left the towels out for 4 hours, and brought them in and they were still damp around the edges. I folded them and put them away anyway :) It was looking like a downpour. I was about to nap (still not recovered from camping!) and did not want to wake up to rained on laundry.

I woke up and there was the sunshine!!! I LOVE the sunshine.

So I sent Allen out to mow the lawn. Oh yeah, our mower and weed eater quit working, also. But my FIL rescued us and let us borrow his mower. So Allen does 3 passes on the lawn, and the mower stops and won't start! So it is sitting in the garage awaiting Doug's arrival home tomorrow (along with the drier.....thanks babe!).

So Allen decided to ride his bike to Convenient, get Hershey bars and we'll have a fire! I'll enjoy sitting on the swing with my youngest son eating s'mores.

So that is our day. Thursdays are long. Doug comes home tomorrow and for some reason, Thursdays are the hardest day for me. I am lonely. The day drags on. But Doug will come home tomorrow and then the weekend flies! I love having him home. I love that he is going to fix my drier while he's here.

We also have fun stuff planned for the weekend, and then Jordan and Isaac come home Sunday evening, Allen goes to youth camp Sunday afternoon, and we're going to spend time at the lake next week and my Gramma is coming with us :) I'm going to make some blueberry scones (at least that is the plan.........don't bank on it Gram) to enjoy with coffee while we're at the lake!

OK, enough rambling.....Allen is starting the fire!

I am glad we're not camping this week!!

It is so cold here. It got all the way up to 60 today, and rained, and will be 45 tonight ***brrrr***

So what did I do? I made bread! I am trying to find a yummy WW recipe that my family likes. I decided to try a different flour. I have yet to venture into the world of NutriMill and Bosch, but only because my boys are not wanting to change! So my quest is to find a good recipe first and then venture.........

So last co-op order, I ordered a 5 lb. bag of Prairie Gold flour! This stuff is wonderful! It was soft and light and easy to work with. My bread rose so nicely and was fluffy and I just sampled it and it is great!

I tried the following recipe. I think I may have gotten it from De'Etta's blog, but I can't remember for sure ***oops***

Delicious Whole Wheat Bread - makes 2 loaves

2 cups warm water
1/3 cup honey
1 T yeast
1/3 cut olive oil
2 t. salt
1/3 cup gluten flour
5 to 7 cups freshly ground whole wheat flour

In a large bowl or in a large mixer (such as a Kitchen Aid or Bosch type) combine the water, yeast and honey. Let sit for a few minutes to give the yeast a chance to start working. Add the salt, oil, gluten flour and 3 to 4 cups of whole wheat flour.

Continue to add more flour until the dough does not stick to the side of the bowl and does not feel sticky to the touch. Knead for 4 minutes in a Bosch mixer or 7 to 10 in other mixers or 10 to 15 minutes by hand.

When dough has finished kneading let it rise once until doubled in bulk (unless you are using a Bosch type mixer and in this case you can skip the 1st rising). Punch down dough and divide it into 2 pieces and form into loaves and set in bread pans.

Let it rise in a slightly warm oven (this means that you turn the oven on for just 2 or 3 min. or until you can feel the heat and then turn it off, if it is too hot then it will kill the yeast) for 15 to 25 minutes or until the dough is ½ inch above top of pan.

Turn oven to 350 (without taking bread out) and bake for approx. 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Random Camping Moments!!!

We just spent a week at Cook Forest, PA with 10 other families we had never met. Well, we had met one of them. I had anyway, for a couple hours, when the mom brought us meals. She lives about an hour from us.

Anyway, in February I asked on the Sonlight forums if anybody would like to go camping with us. And we had 10 takers! We had people from GA, IN, PA, TX, OH and Hondorous! There were 37 children and many late nights!

We made a lot of friends and met a bunch of cool people! I cannot wait to get together with these people again! And I must say, camping is much easier with "sister wives" and extra husbands :)

Here are a few random photos.

This racoon's name is "Royce". He crawled through a 3" crack in one family's car window!!! We assured the son that yes, indeed, his dad would want to be woken up and told about Royce in the car!
Doug and me at Seneca Point, a beautiful rock in Cook Forest! He really isn't that much taller than I am. The rock is not level LOL!
Royce loved marshmallows!

Isaac! Isn't he handsome? His hair is getting really long! Our view while canoing.............simply breathtaking!
Doug and Isaac!

What is sexier than a man doing dishes???
Doug, Isaac and Allen at Seneca Point. Jordan was only with us for 2 nights. He had to work and had church responsibilities. He was gone by the time this picture was taken. It was our first family vacation without our entire family :( Not a happy milestone!
This is how I canoe! My sweet honey was very concerned with my fibro pain. Mostly, he did the paddling and I enjoyed the sunshine :)
Allen! He is 14 now! My baby..........
I did not post any of the many pictures of other people............but trust me, we camped with strangers who are now our friends!

Long Time No Blog!!!!

So what have I been up to?

Well, we finished our 11th year hs'ing in May.

We celebrated Allen's 14th birthday! Where does the time go? My baby should NOT be 14 yet!!

Doug is adjusting to his new job. He likes it. After a year I am finally getting used to the yucky schedule of him only home on weekends, but I treasure those weekends!

Dad put the cottage up for sale! After 10 days they had a buyer, but the deal didn't go through. So for now we are enjoying the lake a little bit longer :)

In February I was really struggling with depression, and in a fit of craziness I posted on the Sonlight forums that I was going camping, and would anybody like to go with me?? Well, people did! We just got home (pictures coming next post) from Cook Forest, PA last week and we had a fabulous time! We were joined by 10 families, 9 of which we had never met! We had a BLAST!!!

I am continuing with the fibro clinic and am starting to feel somewhat normal. I am taking 23 different meds, creams and supplements daily. Four times a day I take a variety of pills and powders and creams. I have lost 12 lbs.! and was starting to feel less exhausted (and then I went camping and I am still recovering LOL) and I no longer stuggle with depression \o/

One of my Grams has been diagnosed with terminal uterine cancer. She just found out last week, with no signs or symptoms. Six weeks ago she was dancing 6 hours a night and now she cannot get out of bed. She has decided not to do traditional treatment, and is consulting with a natural doctor who works with cancer patients out of FL. She is going to eat a raw diet and do a detox and pray.

My step-dad is dealing with atrial fibrullation? and is in the hospital right now. Please keep him in your prayers, also, and my Mom too.

Doug and I are still going dancing as often as possible!

I am planning a trip to visit my new friends in PA and VA in July :)

So that's what's been happening my way. How about you?