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Participating In A Craft Fair

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The last 3 years I have participated in a craft fair in November.  I started off with beaded bookmarks and fudge.  the second year I did fudge, necklaces, earrings,candles, and rhubarb juice.  This year I did fudge, rhubarb juice ( two kinds plain and also a raspberry rhubarb which was a BIG hit),candles-beeswax, knitted baby booties.  I have worked up to this as my youngest got old enough for me to be away for two days with big brothers taking care of them. 

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Each year I set a goal to try to reach.  This year I wanted to earn enough to buy a grain grinder.  I also try to go into the fair with having everything paid for.  I came close to attaining that.  I did earn enough to pay for my supplies, table, my goal and very close to buying more supplies for more candles that I will be dropping off at a local artistan store. 

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I have been working each year to get something to help me make it easier to make healthier food inexpensively.  Last year I got a Kitchen Aide Mixer and boy did that make my life easier in making food from scratch quickly.  I am putting this out there to maybe help start someones wheels moving in brainstorming how you can make things that seem to be out of reach normally but can be attained with some elbow grease and a goal. 

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 I am very thankful God has helped me and my family in this way.  I also have to say that I am thankful that this is only once a year.  I sold twice as much as I did last year.  God put in my mind to also sell raspberry-rhubarb juice along with the rhubarb juice.  It was a BIG hit along with my fudge.  I was very pleased how everyone liked my baby booties.  I had stitched snow flakes on the toe and also I blanket stitched on the top cuff.  Next year I will be making bigger kid  sizes and some adult sizes too.  

. I have to say that I couldn't be this pulled away for very much more.  I love being a mom first and let this be a side thing to help my family in a short term.  I thank the Lord for blessing this last week ends sales.

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Now to join in the fun of Tightwad Tuesday....

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  Link your TWT post click on MckLinky and give exact the URL of your post.   (each Tuesday that  you join in on the fun)  

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example of a URL ...

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Canadagirl/693425/

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  Now go ahead link and read and comment on all these other's wonderful TWT's. 

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 Lets save our pennies, nickles, dimes, and dollars  together !

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"There are only a few big ways to save money but there are many small ways ....that all adds up."

Well, we homeschool and we blog so I think we probably read homeschool blogs too, right?

It's time to vote for the best ones! 

Go to The Homeschool Post .  Click on the VOTE button on the right sidebar.  Scroll down to see the 25 categories of nominees and VOTE!

Here are some of MY personal favorites:

Raising Arrows

 A Pondering Heart

Walking Therein

Feelin' Feminine

A City on a Hill

Gleaning the Harvest

The Mango Times

A Dusty Frame

On the Road to Manhood

Penny Raine

Heart of Wisdom

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Wondering why I am not blogging as much right now ? 

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Its that time of year again for me.  I am swamped trying to get ready for the Christmas Craft Fair that I am in.  It is a two day affair so I need to have lots of goodies to sell.  This year I am going to have rhubarb juice, raspberry rhubarb juice, knitted mug cozies, and to go coffee cup cozies, fudge, a few necklaces, and candles.  I will give a updated pic of all these as soon as I am able.

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I will be kinda scarce for a week longer.  The craft fair is on the 20th and 21st.  So that means I am madly trying to finish making all that I hope to make.  Things always take longer than I hope.  A few extras were thrown in that I wasn't prepared for.  For example had to make room for our order of beef and I had to make room by pulling out frozen fruit that then HAD to be made into jam. 

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I think the best thing for me to say b/c I don't want really to totally disappear from bloggyland that I will keep popping in and leaving notes on my cbox this coming week.

Blessings and ((HUGS)) ! 

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PS:  There will be no Tightwad Tuesday on this coming Tuesday.  It will be back on ....

November 24th.

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Save In Piggybacking

In all the changes that I have made this year I have been learning the importance of "piggybacking".  Piggybacking is when you butt one thing after the other and save because it is already heated up.  For example... to dry one load of laundry after the other and save because the dryer is already heated up.  Another way I have piggybacked my savings is when I roast my coffee beans.  I roast what I need for that week...one batch after the other. A third way that I can think of right off the bat is piggybacking while baking or cooking with the oven.  Get the biggest bang for your buck by baking several things together and right after the other.  In the winter time it is also a nice way to raise the temperature a little in your house.  I guess you can say it is like multi-tasking your energy use and save.   .

Now to join in the fun of Tightwad Tuesday....

.

  Link your TWT post click on MckLinky and give exact the URL of your post.   (each Tuesday that  you join in on the fun)  

.

example of a URL ...

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Canadagirl/693425/

.

  Now go ahead link and read and comment on all these other's wonderful TWT's. 

.

 Lets save our pennies, nickles, dimes, and dollars  together !

.

"There are only a few big ways to save money but there are many small ways ....that all adds up."

I got this recipe from my friend Lyn, but I put my own spin on it.  We have it every Wed. for breakfast and often have the leftovers for a snack.  We make it up the night before and store it in the fridge to make our morning as easy (and as TASTY) as can be!

Baked Oatmeal

3 C. Oatmeal

1 C. Sugar (we use less than 1 C...  more like 3/4 C. of organic, unbleached sugar... I tried honey, but it didn't turn out as soft as we liked)

1 t. salt.  (I use kosher sea salt)

2 t. baking powder (I use aluminum free from Costco)

6 scoops of organic whey protein powder (we use the kind sweetened with stevia and xylitol and either chocolate OR vanilla tastes great)

1 C. milk (actually we use 1 C. of kefir and sometimes add just a little more than a cup since the kefir can be quite thick.  Rice milk also works well!)

2 eggs (organic, if possible)

1/2 C. oil (we use unsweetened organic applesauce instead)

I also sprinkle in a large amount (I never measure... maybe a scant 1/4 C.???) of organic cinnamon

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Pour into greased 8x11 pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.  Serve warm topped with applesauce, warm milk, raisins, craisins, nuts, whatever you like.

We have also made this with eggnog instead of milk and it was yummy!

Oh, once I made it with choc. protein powder and added a couple heaping TBS. of raw almond butter and it was nice like that too!

I have decided after much prayer that I need to close Show and Tell Friday.  It has been wonderful connecting with so many ladies this way.  I feel like I need to scale back some in my life.  Thank you all who have joined in ALL on the fun over the last couple of years. 

   I know I'm loooooong overdue for an update. I'll try to get on soon, but there has been alot going on around here. Please pray for us as we deal with some situations in our life that are less than pleasant!

   In the meantime here is a sale that is going on at Currclick starting today! If you pop over please us the affiliate link box in the right hand sidebar as we get a small commision your your purchase at no cost to you - Thank you! - Deedee

Celebrating 19 Years !

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I have to say  ...boy have we come a long way baby!   I had moved and  started a whole new life with Handsome in a different country from my birth, had four sweet boys, built a house and a life with my Handsome.   Do I regret any of it ???  No, God has blessed me through the thick and the thin and has shaped and molded us in so many ways. ( and still is !)  

Honey,

Happy Anniversary and may we have MANY more !  I am more in love with you now than I was way back then and I was head over heals in love with you then.

XXOOO