I am a disciple of Jesus Christ first, a helpmeet to Bill and a mother to four. I try to be a good friend to those who need me. I am learning all the time from everyone I meet! Yes, I am the proverbial loser of the purse, keys, important pieces of paper, even after having read countless books about organization and home management. But, wonder of wonders, my children and my wonderful husband, and most importantly, my Lord, all still love me. They even help me search for my purse! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hasanyoneseenmypurse/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:27:00 -0500 Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:27:00 -0500 I know that I have not posted in quite a while, but truly, circumstances have prevented me! My first born got married this in June!! I will post some pictures when I get them from the photographer. Needless to say, we are just thrilled with our new daughter-in-love. She is beautiful inside and out. We have had some disappointments in the garden. First, a rabbit kept getting in at night and eating my yellow and zucchini squash! I used to love the Tale of Peter Rabbit. Now, though, I believe I identify with Farmer McGreggor more than Peter! Recipe Tip: With the squash that we have gotten so far, I used a nifty little gadget called a Spiralizer to cut them in thin ringlets. (Actually, sweetie pie, Lydia, cut them and then proceeded to eat them! Yes, Miss Picky!) By marinading them in olive oil and soy sauce, they could be eaten raw, but tasted as though they had been sauteed. Mmmmmm! The green beans have just about played out and I am going to replant them this weekend. I got about 12 pounds of beans from these plants. I don't know if that is remarkable or just average, but they were delicious. I don't know the price of organic fresh green beans, but the local grocery store had them priced at $2.99 yesterday so those yummy beans would have cost me around $35! We had some seed from last year, but my husband wanted to try a different variety this year so I did buy the seed, but that cost is minimal. Recipe Tip: Take a jelly roll pan and brush it lightly with coconut oil. Spread out about a pound of green beans with ends snapped. Thinly slice an onion and top the beans. Add about 10 (yes, I said 10) cloves of garlic and place over the top. Once roasted the garlic will be deliciously mild. Salt and pepper to taste. Bake at 400 until beans are to your liking! I love them as they are, but my husband and sons like to sprinkle them with balsamic vinegar! I have had about a dozen tomatoes to ripen so far, but about 75-80 have not ripened yet. I'm sure, with my luck, that they will all ripen on the same day! :) Sun-dried tomatoes will definitely be on the menu. Our fruit trees have totally shocked me! We just planted them along with our Spring garden and lo and behold, all the fig trees are bearing fruit along with several pears. I believe a delicious pear crisp is in order! I thought that you could not expect to have fruit for at least three years from when you planted. Did you know that pears actually need to be picked before they are ripe? Bill was reading about them in one of our organic gardening books and that was the advice given. I have already harvested and made pesto with my basil and am going to havest and make more today. Companion gardeners say to plant basil alongside tomatoes. I tried that this year and I seem to be having a "bumper" crop! I will also dry some of the basil for use this winter, but I really prefer it fresh. My only regret so far with this years garden is that we did not plant even more! Hmmmm... I think I said the same thing last year! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hasanyoneseenmypurse/716334/ Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:27:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hasanyoneseenmypurse/716334/ From Seeds to Harvest I am taking part in a challenge! Those of you who know me very well will also know that I love trying something new! Experimenting! My oldest son (whom I'm afraid takes after me, poor thing) would often get in trouble and say, "I just wanted to see what would happen!" My dear friends have often been seen cringing in fear when they hear these words come out of my mouth: "You know what we could do?" Well, our entire family has taken to gardening. Of course, it is now cool to garden because of our present economy, but I must say that this is not our first garden. I must also confess, that I hope at the end of the season to be able to say that this was our first successful garden! :) I have decided to take a challenge with a few other adventuresome folks to share what we are doing (successes and failures) in our garden this year. I will post about it from time to time. I may even wax poetic occasionally. Isn't that supposed to happen to people who spend time with nature! If you, too would like to 'take the challenge' just click on the images of Seeds to Harvest at the top of this post to find out how you can join with others on this season's GREAT ADVENTURE. Here are some pictures of my humble beginnings. The garden has been trying to survive since March 20. Two weeks later we had a freeze :( and lost our first cucumbers. The other plants survived, but because of the continued cold began to turn a sickly shade of yellow. We continued to put worm castings on them in hopes that they would rally. Note: Do not plant cucumbers until the ground has warmed to at least 65-70 degrees. They cannot bear the cold. (Of course, we did not know this until after the freeze and I then checked my gardening books. Hmmmm. Is there a lesson in this?) We decided not to try cucumber plants, but started them the second time from seed. Aren't they the cutest things? We have planted tomatoes, cucumbers, squash (crooked neck and zucchini), bell peppers, chili peppers, onion sets, beans, and several kinds of herbs. Note: Here in Texas, we have been informed that our onion sets should have been out the first of January! I don't know how they will do. The farmers who let us know showed us their onions that are almost ready to harvest. Huge! Beautiful! I wish that we had known. sigh.... Pear, plum, and fig trees have also come to reside here at the farm. (I'll post pictures of these at another time.) We had a tiny black insect that tried to devour the plum trees, but I believe that we have overwhelmed him with organic pepper sprays. I know that I could not have lived through the onslaught of torture through which we put those bugs! :) Compost tea is also another great way to feed your plants. Here is a link to making your own! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hasanyoneseenmypurse/684676/ Fri, 1 May 2009 07:09:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hasanyoneseenmypurse/684676/ Everyone is talking about saving money right so I thought that after brainstorming with a friend the other day I would put in my "two cents worth"! I have a couple of tips to share. First, I have a dear friend that absolutely refuses to buy anything that is not in her set budget amount. When she goes shopping if the item is more than $10 she will not buy it! She says that their budget will not allow for it and so she prays about the things they need and waits for the Lord to provide the item for $10 or less! I find that wonderful. The Lord even provided her with cashmere sweaters one year for $7 dollars each! Also, if your children have outgrown their toy boxes don't get rid of them. Use them for extra storage of long term food items. It's like having an extra pantry or emergency stash. Of course one of the best courses of action when desiring to cut back is to simply stay out of the store! That said, when I do go, bringing just the cash needed for the trip keeps me from spending more. When the cash envelope is empty, that the end! When my children were little a friend of mine and I would switch off watching the children and the other one would do the shopping. Of course, we both were more careful of our spending when shopping for someone else and the children were not along to be tempted with all the goodies their eyes could see! I keep a year's supply of paper goods now so that I can wait for a genuine sale. Then I can simply restock. I have gone to using very inexpensive bar rags or cheap washcloths for our paper towels. I have a large supply so that I don't run out between washings. It has already saved quite a bit. I put out paper towels when company comes if I feel that the towels would make them feel uncomfortable. I also love to use cloth napkins and I feel very feminine and close to my grandmother when I use a handkerchief instead of tissues. My little four year old daughter always asks for a "hankie"! lol They also make lovely little gifts to add to a thank you note or a "just because I'm thinking of you" card. My favorite saving idea right now I call Once in a Lifetime Soup. Simply put, I use whatever leftovers I have to create a brand new soup that I call Once in a Lifetime Soup. Of course, it is just leftovers with broth and seasoning added, but it always feels like a treat when I call it that. My family enjoys it so much that often when we have a dish now they will ask if they can have it again or is this just "once in a lifetime". By experimenting with the spices in the drawer it has also shown me some unusual things that my family really enjoys! There always seem to be enough leftovers to make a big pot and sometimes that lasts for two meals! Its like dining for free! All that said, I'd like to share a quote from Jill Cooper, author of Penny Pinchin' Mama. I grabbed the phone and answered it. It was my daughter chuckling on the other end. “We got another one,” she said, “Another laundry detergent e-mail.” For years now we have one reoccurring question. How can I save on my laundry detergent? This may seem like an innocent enough question, but when we find out the writer’s story, laundry detergent is almost never really relevant to the problem. What we’ve found is that a person who asks about laundry detergent is usually on the brink of bankruptcy, divorce, or losing a job. It’s like some kind of code word or distress signal for “Help Me -- I’m drowning in debt”. I have tried to understand why in a financial crisis so many people want to learn how to save money on laundry detergent when there are so many more obvious ways they could be saving. Here is what I have finally concluded: First, by focusing on a trivial issue they don't have to look at the real, more serious problem. It's like putting a Band-Aid on a scratch on your finger while you are bleeding profusely from an artery on your leg. They don't want to acknowledge the real spending problem because then they would have to deal with it. If you are in this situation and you want to be free of it, YOU HAVE TO ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM. You are spending more money then you make. It is important to realize that spending impulsively beyond your means is almost as bad as doing drugs. You get instant gratification and pleasure but over the long haul, it will destroy you. Second, saving on laundry detergent gets rid of that nagging guilt for a little while. As long as they keep trying to save pennies on unimportant things, they don't have to feel guilty about spending thousands on the fun things. The problem is that if they are spending beyond their means, it will catch up with them eventually, which will make the stress and damage all the worse. So, frugality, as does everything, still comes down to a heart issue. Of course, with the economic crisis that we are facing, the price of laundry detergent matters, but am I being a "good steward" of all that the Lord has provided for me. Am I content with what I have or am a really looking for a bargain so that I don't have to feel the guilt of shopping for things that are not necessary. Pray for me as I pray for you! Blessings, Robin http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hasanyoneseenmypurse/645288/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 06:33:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hasanyoneseenmypurse/645288/ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hasanyoneseenmypurse/634960/ Sun, 21 Dec 2008 08:52:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hasanyoneseenmypurse/634960/ Tarragon Chicken & Thrifty Fun Here's a little recipe that I thought looked easy and yummy! Enjoy! Tarragon Chicken Ingredients 2 Tbsp. butter or margarine 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves 3/4 cup dry white wine or vermouth 2 tsp. Dijon mustard 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh tarragon or 1 teaspoon dried tarragon 1/2 tsp. salt freshly ground pepper to taste 3/4 cup heavy cream Directions In a large skillet, melt butter in oil over medium high heat. Add chicken breast and cook; turning once, until lightly browned, about 4 minutes a side. Remove and set aside. Add wine to the pan. Bring to a boil, scraping up brown bits from bottom of pan with a wooded spoon. Stir in mustard, tarragon, salt and pepper to taste. Whisk in cream and boil until mixture thickens slightly about 3 minutes. Return chicken to skillet; turn in sauce to coat, and simmer for 5-10 minutes, until chicken is tender. Remove chicken to a serving dish, and spoon sauce over all the chicken. Source: A friend, Maureen By Raymonde from North Bay, Ontario I got it from a website called Thrifty Fun. Check it out for a million tips on saving money http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hasanyoneseenmypurse/634957/ Sun, 21 Dec 2008 08:35:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hasanyoneseenmypurse/634957/ I guess my title really says it all, but my husband and I have been reflecting on this statement for quite a while now. Needless to say, we are not there. People will continue to behave in irritating, irrational, hurtful or just plain thoughtless ways. When I become irritated, irrational, hurt or just plain astonished by this behavior what I am beginning to see is that the places in my heart that I thought had been transformed by the Holy Spirit are really just *****ed and patched with self-righteousness. So when those *****ed and patched places have stress placed on them holes begin to appear and I am left bleeding and astounded and surprised... "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." "Whatever is lovely...think on these things." "...sharing in His sufferings..." How quickly I forget! I am not a china doll to be wrapped in cotton batting and handled carefully. I am an empty, cracked vessel to be used and spent by the Lord. Please transform me, Lord, so that this bad patch job will truly be replaced with You. Then it may hurt, (You were hurt), but joy will abound! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hasanyoneseenmypurse/634339/ Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:04:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hasanyoneseenmypurse/634339/ Do you want your children to be more Missions-Minded?  I do! This is a full year unit study for multiple ages written by a wonderful homeschool mom of seven, Ann Dunagan.  When you see this, you will be sooooo excited! Another Merry CHRISTmas to you! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hasanyoneseenmypurse/633336/ Wed, 17 Dec 2008 08:48:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hasanyoneseenmypurse/633336/ You know, I was just reading a little article on giving. The author wondered what it would be like to have enough money to give gifts to others and whether or not they would find themselves wanting a pat on the back for having done so. You know, we all have enough to give gifts to others. They don't have to be physical gifts. They can be gifts of time or actions or prayer. Do we want a proverbial pat on the back for those?  Do we have to tell everyone how we spend out time or what we did for someone or what we have been praying about? If we have to have recognition for organizing the Christmas play or the Sunday School party don't we already know the answer to this question? Giving a gift has nothing to do with money.  It has everything to do with the heart. Help me, help us, Lord, to give like You! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hasanyoneseenmypurse/633316/ Wed, 17 Dec 2008 07:56:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hasanyoneseenmypurse/633316/ I sent messages to a couple of people about how to improve my blog and to be honest, I can't even begin to understand what they are telling me!  I had no idea of my lack of knowledge! How embarrassing! Have I ranted enough? You know, it makes me think of the Lord.  And it makes me think of those without Christ... How many times do I find myself in utter disbelief at the actions of the world?  How many times have a shared a biblical principle with someone and been surprised at that "deer in the headlight" look? How many times have I had that look? Lord, forgive me when I forget that You have seen that look a thousand times on your disciples faces. On my face... http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hasanyoneseenmypurse/633308/ Wed, 17 Dec 2008 07:27:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hasanyoneseenmypurse/633308/ Is the Lord's timing wonderful or what? My fibromyalgia has been flaring up and making simple things hard and sometimes all I want to do is cry. On Sunday, my email devotional by Charles Spurgeon was timely and incredibly true.  I think I will just post his words for you. “They go from strength to strength.” Psalm 84:7 They go from strength to strength. There are various renderings of these words, but all of them contain the idea of progress. Our own good translation of the authorized version is enough for us this morning. “They go from strength to strength.” That is, they grow stronger and stronger. Usually, if we are walking, we go from strength to weakness; we start fresh and in good order for our journey, but by-and-by the road is rough, and the sun is hot, we sit down by the wayside, and then again painfully pursue our weary way. But the Christian pilgrim having obtained fresh supplies of grace, is as vigorous after years of toilsome travel and struggle as when he first set out. He may not be quite so elate and buoyant, nor perhaps quite so hot and hasty in his zeal as he once was, but he is much stronger in all that constitutes real power, and travels, if more slowly, far more surely. Some gray-haired veterans have been as firm in their grasp of truth, and as zealous in diffusing it, as they were in their younger days; but, alas, it must be confessed it is often otherwise, for the love of many waxes cold and iniquity abounds, but this is their own sin and not the fault of the promise which still holds good: “The youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.” Fretful spirits sit down and trouble themselves about the future. “Alas!” say they, “we go from affliction to affliction.” Very true, O thou of little faith, but then thou goest from strength to strength also. Thou shalt never find a bundle of affliction which has not bound up in the midst of it sufficient grace. God will give the strength of ripe manhood with the burden allotted to full-grown shoulders. "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news." Thank you Mister Spurgeon for speaking across many years to me for this moment in time. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hasanyoneseenmypurse/633225/ Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:32:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hasanyoneseenmypurse/633225/