Apr. 6, 2006
My Living Room
I am taking my Living Room back!
I love reading Laine's Letters online. In fact awhile back someone asked if she would make them into a book and she replied that she didn't have any plans for that, but that the lady could make her own "book" by printing the letters. I went ahead and copied all the Letters into Word and it was over 600 pages. I played with the page settings and the font and got it down to 576.
Anyway, after re-reading the Parlor Mentality www.lainesletters.com/letters/parlormentality.html I decided I needed to claim back my living room. In the past months, we have been looking at military gear and numerous musical instruments. If you guessed they are my husband's, you're right! So I carried his music stuff to the appropriate room. I then cleared our living room closet of all the board games to make room for the military gear.
Now if I can figure out how to keep the videos in place things will be great.
Apr. 6, 2006
Red Palm Oil
I haven't used it yet, I just got some today. I am just wanting to let everyone know that I placed my order with Safari Market and I would not recommend them.
Wilderness Family Naturals sells the Red Palm Oil, the link is under "Healthy Foods" and "Natural Palm Oil"
So here's what happened- I placed my order on March 18th, and finally received half my order today April 6th, it was packed very poorly and 1 jar was broken. I called to inquire on the rest of my order and the broken jar and they could not find my order even with the order # printed on their receipt. They only had a record of sending out the one package. Thankfully they are sending out the rest of my order and a replacement, but I am not impressed.
Now let me tell you about Wilderness Family Naturals http://www.wildernessfamilynaturals.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT&Store_Code=WFN&AFFIL=4K8xm7v6
I placed an order for Coconut Oil on March 29 and received it on April 5, packaged wonderfully and not one broken jar.
I know Tropical Traditions also sells great coconut oil, but I have never done business with them.
Apr. 4, 2006
Today I save almost $140 for the year
It may not be a lot but it is helpful. Since we really don't read the paper, I switched from a daily delivery to Sunday only. That way I still get my Sunday coupons. I can read the grocery store ads online. If I wanted to save more for the year I could have canceled the paper, but then I would have to remember to get out with 4 kids to get the paper after church, having delivered is helpful.
My second savings came from cancelling our AAA account. We had been covered for Roadside assistance for awhile, then we had a great introductory offer from AAA but next month to renew it would be $75, for minimum service. I called and found out that our insurance offeres a Roadside assistance plan for $12 a year! Well worth having, in case we ever need towing or get locked out of the car.
Apr. 3, 2006
We just got this from HSLDA
Parental Rights Are Under AttackTogether We Can Preserve Them
Parental rights are under attack. We see parental liberty increasingly challenged in the legal and legislative arenas. Although homeschoolers have done much to secure educational freedom for themselves, we recognize that this freedom is only as secure as our rights as parents. Therefore, we are helping to spearhead an effort that will expressly protect our parental rightsso they are secure for generations to come.
Our goal is to begin a push for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that will secure our God-given right as parents to direct the upbringing of our children. Homeschoolers alone cannot make this happen, we know. However, we can be at the core of a movement to secure parental liberty for moms and dads all across this country. And the more parents who band together to protect our rights, the stronger our voice.
Therefore, we are asking you to encourage your friends to join HSLDA. For a limited time, we are offering a free trial membership with HSLDA. Anyone who joins as a result of your referral will be granted a free trial membership thats good until August 15, 2006. (Please note that this trial offer is not available to current members.)
This opportunity to apply for a free trial membership is shortjust six weeks longfrom April 1 through May 15. So dont delay in referring your friends! Please forward the link below to at least three friends (who are not currently members) and encourage them to join with us in the cause of securing parental rightsfor all of us.
These families will receive all the benefits of membership through August 15. We know the battle for parental liberties will not be short, so we will welcome them to join HSLDA as regular members when their trial membership ends.
Please take a few minutes to think of three families who you think would benefit from this free trial membership and forward this link to them:
Get your special HSLDA Trial Membership here:
https://app.hslda.org/default.asp?TC=12Q0tv
Apr. 3, 2006
Hillbilly Housewife
I heard about www.hillbillyhousewife.com over a year ago and I love it. I hadn't visited the site thoroughly for awhile though and now there is even a Healthy site
http://www.healthy.hillbillyhousewife.com/index.htm
So if you get a chance check it out. Under "Other Goodies" there is even a Biblical Foods list. We have been trying to stay away from the forbidden foods as much as possible, we use Turkey "pork" products and that change has been fine in our house. Sometimes I forget certain things though. Such as, fish without scales, I knew that, but didn't think of it until after I consumed the catfish! So this list is free to print and a great reminder.
If you want to know more about Biblical foods, I would suggest, What Would Jesus Eat? by Don Colbert and The Maker's Diet by Jordan Rubin.
Apr. 2, 2006
Looking for Easy snacks
I am trying to come up with a list of easy, somewhat healthy snacks I can have on hand for the kids to eat. My oldest boys are eating all the time and they are both quite thin.
I make granola bars and those go over very well. I make 2 (9 x 13) pans at a time now, which gives us 36 bars, but they don't last the whole week.
I tried the "Sweet Treat Popcorn" from www.thefamilyhomestead.com yesterday and they really liked that.
We usually have yogurt available, bananas and apples. I guess, I just need to think "out-loud" because now that I am typing it and thinking that we can make smoothies, popcorn, cheese and crackers (Triscuits), WW bread and PB, that really is a lot of snacks. I guess I just need to make a "menu" of snacks and post it on the fridge so that I can make sure things are available and they know what their choices are.
Now that it is getting hot, I don't want to bake as often as we do through the cooler months. I think I might get a popsicle mold. If anyone else would like to share their ideas, feel free.
Snack Menu
1) Banana
2) Apple
3) Applesauce
4) Yogurt
5) Granola Bar
6) Cheese and Crackers
7) Smoothies
8) Bread with Peanut Butter
9) Celery with Peanut Butter
10) Carrots
11) Popcorn
Mar. 31, 2006
TEACH magazine
I just recieved my first issue of TEACH magazine www.TEACHmagazine.com
There are a lot of great Homeschooling magazines out there and this is one of them. I just love how it combines the homemaking part of our lives into it all. Homemaking and Homeschooling should go hand-in-hand. The articles are divided into 4 catagories; Godly Women, Godly Mothers, Homeschoolers, and Homemaker.
I haven't had to opportunity to read the whole magazine, but I have read some and browsed through it and I must say, I am very excited about it. I wish I could have heard of it sooner. There are definitely some new tips in here and some great stuff that I already know but need to be encouraged in.
I am pleased to see some articles on getting the children to do their fair share of the housework. We have been struggling with that around here.
Lorrie Flem also has many books, which look great. She offers bundle packs that I can hopefully take advantage of soon.
Mar. 28, 2006
Pizza for Pennies!
We have also been making our own pizza at home. With four kids, pizza is asked for often, but it is very expensive to order.
We have learned to make our own that is healthier and much cheaper.
Yes, you can make your own pizza sauce, but I have found it easier to buy the Ragu pizza sauce from Sam's Club. It is a huge can for $3.37. When I open the can, I separate it into meal size amounts in freezer bags, freeze on a cookie sheet or with cardboard in between for nice flat, easy stacking baggies.
Whole Wheat Pizza Crust (1 crust, we usually double this)
(works perfectly on my Pampered Chef 15" stone)
Preheat oven to 400
1 cup warm water
3/4 Tblsp. yeast
Stir; let sit for 5 minutes.
Add:
1 Tblsp. olive oil
1 Tblsp. honey
1/4 Tblsp. salt
1 cup (Hard) Whole Wheat flour
Knead in 2 or more cups WW flour. In a large mixer it will all cling to the mixing paddle, by hand this will take around 5 minutes. Let rise for 1 hour.
Roll out dough into a circle. Sprinkle stone/pizza pan with cornmeal. Fold up edge and press to make the "crust."
Parbake for 5 minutes at 400 degrees. Add sauce, cheese, and toppings and bake again for 8 minutes.
We have found not to use too much sauce keeps the pizza from being floppy.
Mar. 28, 2006
In our Home
We have been experimenting with some new things in the kitchen.
I started making Kombucha tea this month. I was really scared at first, but we just started our third batch this morning. Someone on another list sent me the culture, I paid the shipping. If anyone is interested in a culture, I would be willing to send one. There are a couple great websites about Kombucha tea:
http://www.kombuchatea.co.uk/why-drink-kombucha.asp
http://www.regaininghealthnaturally.com/Food_as_Medicine/How_to_Make_Kombucha_Tea.shtml
For the last 4 months we have been using Coconut Oil in our kitchen and learning what works well with it and what doesn't. http://www.regaininghealthnaturally.com/Coconut_Information/Health_Benefits_of_Coconut_Oil.shtml We have been using it to make wonderful granola bars. Coconut oil/butter is a solid below 76 degrees and a clear liquid above 76. I store a small container in a warm spot so I always have liquid coconut oil. I placed a link to Wilderness Family Naturals in my Sidebar.
This month in Above Rubies magazine www.aboverubies.org there was an article about red palm oil so I ordered some and I can't wait to experiment with that in the kitchen. Hopefully, it will fulfill our oil needs where we don't want a coconut-y taste. I just found out that Wilderness Family Naturals also offers Red Palm Oil! See side bar link.
We have also been trying out the Sue Gregg method of soaking grains. I posted on that earlier this month and we tried oat groats and brown rice recently. I still want to try the oat groats and barley. The kids have been happy having waffles a few times in a month.
We made Whole Wheat bagels which needs a little more work. They were quite good, but not perfect.
Also, we took out our yogurt maker again.
Mar. 18, 2006
Matthew is doing great!
He came home from the hospital Thursday night. He still has a little cough, but he is back to running around and eating everything again.
Mar. 15, 2006
Pray for Matthew
Matthew has been in the hospital since Sunday, March 12 with virus and astham related breathing problems. He should get to come home Friday or Saturday.
David and I have been taking care of him and the other children in shifts. He stays over night and I stay during the day. It is hard on everyone still, but we are doing quite well.
Sheri
Mar. 11, 2006
It's March
We've had 2 birthdays in the house this month. Matthew turned 2 and has also been sick. He is having a lot of asthma problems. He has been twice to the doctors and he did get better, only to be ill again on Wednesday. Last night we were up all through the night.
At the end of the month he has a "2 Year Old" appointment at which we can look into trying some different medications. He is on Flovent right now, but I would really like to try something else.
We are experimenting today, making bagels for the first time. I have a few different recipes, so we are starting with the simpliest one and will go from there.
I just got new bread pans and yeast, my other yeast was getting old, but now I need more honey!
We also made Sue Gregg's blender waffles this past week and they were great.
http://www.suegregg.com/recipes/breakfasts/blenderbatterwaffles/blenderbatterwafflesA.htm
I actually made one batch in the VitaMix, but then the next time I tried I ground the grains in my grain mill and mixed everything in my big batter bowl and covered for the night. It was easier for me in the bowl, but if you don't have a grain mill the blender method is great. We used half wheat half oat groats. I think I will try barley and oats next.
Feb. 13, 2006
Since last month
I have not posted because we have been so busy. The kids are doing well, Conner is almost done his phonics book, tomorrow will be his last page and Jared, who had a bigger book will be done in 2 weeks or so.
I had been thinking about doing this for awhile and had actually decided not to do it, but I changed my mind. I am now a Doula in Training!! I am registered for a workshop here in Shreveport in May, through www.alace.org I am very excited about that. I am reading through my required reading list. The hard part is I need to audit some childbirth classes and I need to find someone to watch the children. I want to be able to find someone that can drive so the children can go to bed and I don't have to bring her home.
That is the hardest part of being so far away from everyone. If we lived close to "home" we would have enough people to watch them and never have to feel like were burdening anyone. Anyway, God has a plan, and I don't have to take the classes right now. So we'll see.
Jan. 19, 2006
Books
I had checked out Home Comforts from the library and read through some of it. It had great information, but I just didn't find it fun to read. So I never finished and it went back to the library.
I found "Mrs. Dunwoody's Excellent Instructions for Homekeeping" at a book outlet for $5.99. I had tried the libraries here, but none had it. I also saw it on www.amazon.com in Bargain Books for $7.99 last month.
Anyway, I am still reading that, but it is fun to read and there is a ton of information from cleaning recipes to dinner recipes.
I'm still working on "Created to be His Help Meet" which I think is also a great book so far.
Jan. 14, 2006
We are sick and other news
It started with the baby, although he's not so much a baby anymore. Now everyone is getting a sore throat and cough. I was really looking forward to going to church tomorrow because I missed Wednesday night, when Matthew first became sick. And due to my husband's work schedule, no one in the family will be able to attend church tomorrow. I guess it is just as well, as some of them may pass it along even though they are not sick.
I have been trying to still catch up on things around the house. I am hoping tomorrow that maybe I can do some sewing since I will be home. And reading and resting.
In other news, here on base the last couple of days, Disney has been filming for a new movie called "The Guardian" starring Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher. We got to see them filming a scene with Aston Thursday afternoon, from a distance. It was pretty neat to see. I thought the kids would be much more interested in it all but they just wanted to play.
School is actually going pretty well. We are on track except for Five In A Row. We all love it so I don't know why I am having such a hard time keeping with it.
I was also able to get some hamburger freezer meals made this week, which is wonderful. Now I need to get some chicken ones done, but I don't have as many ideas for that yet. I have tons of 30 Day Gourmet recipes but I haven't tried as many chicken ones out yet. I was able to use the Advantage software for my Hamburger plan and that was pretty neat although, I am still working it out.
Jan. 12, 2006
30 Day Gourmet
I've become a consultant with 30 Day Gourmet.
http://www.30daygourmet.com/sheridevan
Jan. 4, 2006
Funny kid
Tonight as we were all cleaning up dinner and getting ready for church, my second oldest came downstairs and in his whiniest voice says, "I don't have any long-sleeved pants..."
Dec. 22, 2005
Here are the pillows we made for gifts
We used a Free Pattern from http://www.fatquartershop.com/freequiltpattern-fivechickencoopfatquartersfreepillowpattern.asp?Store_id=499&T=1
Instead of chickens, we used printable fabric (colorfast) bought with 50% off coupon, and different fabrics. I didn't have time to take the perfect picture that would fill the whole 6 1/2 inch square so I just worked it to leave a little cream color on the top and bottom.
Dec. 21, 2005
We've caught the Tea Party Bug!
We are just having a great time having Tea Parties. The boys are even loving it! We have been trying different kinds of tea and today we made Chocolate Chip Scones, to eat with our tea.
My friend April (Auntea April) http://www.aunteaaprils.com/hsptlts_goods.html has her own tea business. She sent us some tea samples and they are just wonderful.
My daughter just got "Let's Have a Tea Party" by Emilie Barnes today, so we should come up with many more great ideas.
Dec. 9, 2005
Tagged, so I'll try to answer these
This is really not my kind of thing. I don't have time to do all of them now, and I can't promise I'll ever finish.
7 Things I want before I die:
1. My children to be adults
2. Grandchildren
3. To see my children actively serving the Lord
4. a house
5. Strengthen my own walk
6. Teach my children important life skills
7. Have a "real" vegetable garden
7 Things I Can't Do:
1. Sew anything without making a mistake
2. Keep my home the way I want it to look
3. Keep my children from fighting all day
4. 10 pushups
5. Keep up with all my hobbies
6. Go to the library enough
7. Stop buying books
