Random Thoughts

Friday as I was getting ready to go for pizza and a movie with a friend I walked into my bathroom and saw this... My little kitty cat was waiting on my to finish getting ready. The very next day she crawled in while I wasn't looking and I shut the door and when I was in the shower it sounded like someone was banging on the front door, it was her trying to get the door open.

A few weeks ago I was outside drinking my coffee and watching the birds and it was around 10 am and this is what the moon looked like...

Isn't that pretty with the clouds barley there.

So those are some random things that I wanted to share.

Happy Tuesday!!!

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To win a pizza making kit over at Passionate Homemaking. So go on...leave a comment!

Eat's of the Week ~ October 24, 2010

Since Keith and I have decided that it is better for me to stay home and manage the house I am going to start planning meals out so when I am running errands or cleaning the house dinner is not on my mind.

Keith is in bold above because this was Keith's choice. I was looking for jobs because he wanted me to. He is the head of our house and I am doing as he wishes.

Now, back to meal planning... Last week I planned out all our meals on Sunday and posted the list on the microwave and when I was preparing Monday's meal I looked to see what we were having on Tuesday to see what I can do to get it going whether it was getting the meat out of the freezer or to double check that we have all the ingredients to make it. This was very helpful!

Keith's day graciously gave us the meat from a deer that he killed this year and it amounted to 19 packs of ground venison and 15 packs of cubed venison. This is going to be very helpful and I can't wait to make chili with it. On to this weeks meals...

Sunday

Crock pot Meatloaf

Lima Beans

Mashed Potatoes

Monday

Leftovers

Tuesday

Chicken Pot Pie

Applesauce

Wednesday

Potato Skillet Meal (more on this Thursday)

Thursday

Financial Peace (we eat dinner at the class)

Friday
Hamburgers

Chips

Baked Beans

Saturday

Pumpkin Carving Party (we will eat whatever they are serving up)

So what are you eating this week? Do you plan it out?

Oat Groats

This wonderful grain can be used is so many ways and I have three gallons of it so this is what we will be using it for.

Hot oatmeal for the cooler mornings.

For one person simmer 1/2 cup water and 1/3 cup old fashioned oatmeal on the stove for 5 to 7 minutes.

For four people simmer 3 cups water and 1 1/2 cups old fashioned oatmeal for 5 to 7 minutes.

To this I add brown sugar, almonds and whatever dried fruit I have on hand. You could also add butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin spice, chocolate chips and any type of nuts.


Cold granola cereal for a quick no cook breakfast or snack.

This is the recipe I used for the granola that we are using for cold cereal. Keith said it is better than the Bear Naked brand I purchased at Wal-Mart. I told him to be honest and he said that he was. I added 1/4 cup sliced almonds and 1/4 cup craisins.


Yummy granola bars to give the extra energy needed some days and as a snack to hold us over till dinner on other days.

This is the closest recipe to the way we like them that I am able to find on the web. You can add any dried fruit that you want and you can also add any nuts that you would like. Also you could add protein powder to make them more like a protein bar if you prefer.

Other great recipes that you can use granola for are:
Blueberry-Cranberry Granola Bar Muffins
Oatmeal Honey Raisin Bread
Giant Breakfast Cookies

Granola is a great pantry staple to have on hand because it can be used in so many ways. I hope you enjoyed this and that it inspired you to create something yummy with oatmeal.

Credit for these photos can be found here, here, here and here.

Eat's of the Week ~ October 17, 2010

Sunday

Baked Ham

Mac n' Cheese

Steamed Veggies

Cornbread

Monday

Chili Cornbread

Tuesday

Fend for Yourself

Wednesday

Talipa

Rice

Brussel Sprouts

Thursday

Financial Peace (Our turn to cook, we took Chicken n' Rice)

Friday

Left Over Talipa

Saturday

I had a church dinner event and Keith worked, so no cooking at our house

It Is ...

F~A~L~L

The windows were open all day yesterday and we shut them right before going to bed and they are back open now. I am so excited that I might have another fire tonight in the fire pit for when the hubbie gets home. Talking around a fire is nothing like talking at the dinner table. I can't wait.

These nature made alphabet letters were found at Callaway Gardens on a nature walk. The idea of taking these type of pictures was inspired by an art exhibit that they were showcasing. This was so much fun and at the end of the day my neck was hurting from looking up all day.

Beach Pictures

Here are some pictures of the beach from our recent anniversary trip.

This little fella blends in so well that I would hate to know what it would feel like if he was accidently stepped on.

The water was very calm and clear but to cold to float around in.
The little birds are all cleaning theirselves. I wonder if that was planned?

This picture has left me with nothing to say. Enjoy!!!

Finally and A Verse

So for a long time I have been wanting to start running again but could never get my butt up to do it and this morning, drum roll please......I started off an ran a half mile. Yes, that is not very long but I haven't ran in a long time and I don't want to stress my legs out.

Sunday night I went to a concert and for three house I danced and praised God and my calf's have been feeling those pains. As I started to run the pain got worse and a car sounded like it was going to slow to be passing me. I started to pray and the pain went away and the car keep going and I didn't have another worry the whole eight minute run.

As I am typing in the bedroom, where we keep the computer my husband is laying in bed, the alarm is going off for the fifth time. I asked him if he put a new CD in with the bands name being 'beep beep' as that is what the alarm sounds like and he said that it is called 'the beep straight up'. Silly men!

Here is a verse that I am memorizing and trying to live out...enjoy!

[8 ] Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8 ESV)

Cutting Back

Because we are striving to be a greener and frugal minded family and with the added fact that I am currently not working, Keith and I are finding ways to cut back. These are all small things that we are changing but none the less they are changes that WILL make a difference.

Here are some thing that we are changing:

The windows are being opened every morning and every night.

We have a lot of new bushes that we have planted that we are still nursing and we are using the water from rain barrels to water them.

Who needs flavored liquid creamer? We don't and are now using the dairy free powered coffee creamer which is a big price cut for us.
We are no longer using plastic throw away shower curtain liners that last a month or two before the holes tear apart. We just switched to 100% polyester shower curtain liner.

And I deleted to picture by accident but we are also now using a reusable coffee filter. This is great and it is not only going to help at the grocery store now but in the years to come also.

What ways are you cutting back?

Five Years

WOW, it is hard to believe that today Keith and I have been married FIVE years. They have defiantly been hard and we have had a lot of learning experiences. I do know that without the faith that we have in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior that our marriage would have not lasted. But now that we both know that ‘all things are possible through God’ we don’t let anything stand in our way.

Here we are the night we got engaged...

Our wedding ceremony...

Our first anniversary...
(sorry for the awful quality picture)



Our fourth anniversary...

To celebrate our fifth anniversary we will be going to the beach soon.

Happy five years baby!!!