Well, I’m getting hit with a double whammy but I guess it could be worse. Aunt Flo arrived this morning kicking and screaming and she is being a real pain. I really need to just have a “Free Be Me Day” but I’ve already taken my allotment of those this month with being sick. Mine and dh's cold have settled in our chest so we sound like rickety old rat-a-tat cars that sputter and wheeze. plus it hurts. I’m thinking about doing a chest plaster but it is soooo hard to take care of your own self when Aunt Flo just wants someone to take care of her and when your kids don't seem to be effected by any of it. in anyway. Man, I truly don’t have time to be feeling rotten even though I know the best thing for me to do is rest. It is hard to let things go knowing that Thanksgiving is nipping at my heels and Christmas is right around the corner. I am starting to feel like taffy with everyone pulling on me. Thinking Christmas in the Bahamas sounds like a nice way of dismissing the whole event at the moment. Heck let's just go for the whole winter.
Okay so the good news is that (we *think -- it is not official at the moment) the 12-7p shift that dh thought he is working is actually the shift he is getting on Christmas day (I don’t mind that because then he will here in the morning and be home for a late dinner) and he will be off on Thanksgiving all day which is good and bad. Good because now we can celebrate Thanksgiving but bad because now I can’t host -- all the hosting jobs are already taken. Now most would think not hosting Tday would be a good thing but remember the vent I didn’t send about divorcing our immediate family? Well, that seriously comes into play here and dh working on Tday gave me the excuse to host either lunch or dinner and that would have put some barriers on that day that our families wouldn’t be able to cross. I know holidays are supposed to be about family but I think I am just sick of defending my every thought at every moment and being criticized for everything I do on both sides. And honestly if they really thought about it they would all know why I don’t want to spend Thanksgiving with any of them -- sad isn't it! Now it will just be another battle so yep… be careful what you wish for because you *might have Thanksgiving off -- "jezz, there is no pleasing some people", she said to her self who is probably just stressed out.
Today we spent the day watching the National Bible Bee Finals online. This competition will forever have a soft spot for us since we got to participate back in September on the local level. All my boys did very well with my oldest taking 3rd place in his age group. It was thrilling and exciting and because of the way this contest is scored we were fairly certain that we had no chance of him being chosen as one of the top 100 of the nation. Honestly, we were ecstatic with his 3rd place showing just because of how extremely difficult this contest was and we were honored to have the opportunity to participate. So naturally we would want to see how the finalist did and boy! These kids were amazing! So many verses and Bible knowledge tucked into their heads; it was enough to make you spin and this was ONLY the final Bible memory portion. They also had a previous written test and a prior Bible recitation that they had to get through in order to compete at this final level. If you watch the re-broadcast for even a moment I am sure your heart will be blessed, amazed, humbled and astonished. I commend and congratulate ALL those students who competed but especially those who went to nationals.
You can watch here: http://www.biblebee.org/nationals2009/webcast.php
About this time every year I tinge at the pretty fall garland that is for sale in the store, thinking how lovely that would look around my mantel or around our front door but knowing that there are more important things to buy -- I covet until I pull our own homemade family garland and then all is right in the world again. For the last ten years or so, we would cut fall leaves out of colored construction paper or brown bags. Then daily everybody writes down what they are thankful for; when they were younger I would write down what they said then I would fix them to a ribbon and hang them around the mantel or window to decorate the house. In years past the kids always wanted to do our leaves but to me it just felt like my feeble attempt to decorate in a way we could afford and I thought it just looked tacky until this year. This year I actually took some time to read back through some of those thankful leaves remembering some of the events that were taking place, remembering how much things have changed and realizing that time is moving through the universe at such a rapid pace that I am almost out of breath. If I blink it will all be gone! And then something hit me -- what if this were the last holiday that I got with any one of the people in my home? Now don't get me wrong -- everyone is healthy & happy and I am not such a pessimist that I think that the sky is falling but looking back at those Thankful leaves I realized that anything can change with the direction of the wind and that no matter how many "traditions" I put in place that this time, this place and this year will NEVER be this way again and really this is how I need to look at every second of my life. And how many times even this year I have also complained about those "traditions" that needed cooking and prepping and preparing and planning -- shame on me! This time is fleeting and while there are extended family situations that I'm not looking forward to, there are traditions and memorable family times that I want to create and cherish inside my own four walls. So I am thankful that G-d gave me the vision to start this tradition of tacky thankful leaves long ago and that He gave me the wisdom to see what I truly am thankful for but especially that He gave me the insight to relax a bit and enjoy this moment of time because this moment is but a wink.
With Christmas music in the stores, Halloween slashed at 50-75% off and Thanksgiving in the turkey wings (so to speak LOL) I thought this was a provocative reminder that my holiday preparations do not have to look like a spread from Better Homes and nor does it need to be scrutinized by anyone (especially my mother) except those who I am thankful to spend it with. As you prepare may you also be reminded...
Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Thanksgiving. I'm
telling you in advance, so don't act surprised. Since Ms. Stewart won't be coming, I've made a few small changes as follows:
Our sidewalk will not be lined with homemade, paper bag luminaries.
After a trial run, it was decided that no matter how cleverly done, rows of flaming lunch sacks do not have the desired welcoming effect.
Once inside, our guests will note that the entry hall is not decorated
with the swags of Indian corn and fall foliage I had planned to make.
Instead, I've gotten the kids involved in the decorating by having them track in colorful autumn leaves from the front yard. The mud was their idea.
The dining table will not be covered with expensive linens, fancy china, or crystal goblets. If possible, we will use dishes that match and everyone will get a fork. Since this IS Thanksgiving, we will refrain from using the plastic Peter Rabbit plate and the Santa napkins from last Christmas.
Our centerpiece will not be the tower of fresh fruit and flowers that I promised. Instead we will be displaying a hedgehog-like decoration
hand-crafted from the finest construction paper. The artist assures me it is a turkey.
We will be dining fashionably late. The children will entertain you
while you wait. I'm sure they will be happy to share every choice
comment I have made regarding Thanksgiving, pilgrims and the turkey
hotline.
Please remember that most of these comments were made at 5:00 a.m. upon discovering that the turkey was still hard enough to cut diamonds. As accompaniment to the children's recital, I will play a recording of tribal drumming. If the children should mention that I don't own a recording of tribal drumming, or that tribal drumming sounds suspiciously like a frozen turkey in a clothes dryer, ignore them. They are lying.
We toyed with the idea of ringing a dainty silver bell to announce the
start of our feast. In the end, we chose to keep our traditional
method. We've also decided against a formal seating arrangement. When
the smoke alarm sounds, please gather around the table and sit where
you like. In the spirit of harmony, we will ask the children to sit at
a separate table.
In a separate room.
Next door.
Now, I know you have all seen pictures of one person carving a turkey
in front of a crowd of appreciative onlookers. This will not be
happening at our dinner. For safety reasons, the turkey will be carved in a private ceremony. I stress "private" meaning: Do not, under any circumstances, enter the kitchen to laugh at me. Do not send small, unsuspecting children to check on my progress. I have an electric knife. The turkey is unarmed. It stands to reason that I will eventually win. When I do, we will eat.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind my young diners that
"passing the rolls" is not a football play. Nor is it a request to
bean your sister in the head with warm tasty bread. Oh, and one
reminder for the adults: For the duration of the meal, and especially
while in the presence of you diners, we will refer to the giblet gravy
by its lesser known name: Cheese Sauce. If a young diner questions you
regarding the origins or type of Cheese Sauce, plead ignorance. Cheese Sauce stains.
Before I forget, there is one last change. Instead of offering a choice among 12 different scrumptious desserts, we will be serving the
traditional pumpkin pie, garnished with whipped cream and small
fingerprints. You will still have a choice; take it or leave it.
Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Thanksgiving. She
probably won't come next year either.
This morning we went to the school performance of Shakespeare's As You Like It performed by the Aquila theater group and I have to say that we were well entertained and quite impressed with this show even though this is one of my less favorite plays by William. The boys thoroughly enjoyed it and even wanted to stay after the performance for the Q/A of the actors. Can you believe that out of the 250 or so kids sitting in the audience listening to the Q/A session only us and maybe 6 others had read the book before coming to the show? Who knows how many were in the theater that morning who had already left but didn't stay for the Q/A and they hadn't read the book either!No wonder these (mostly high school) kids act the way they do at these performances -- very juvenile, disrespectful and ignorant of what they are seeing.Either way my boys loved the show and even asked pertaining questions of the actors during the Q/A. If you ask any one of my boys what their favorite school subject is, they will usually say Shakespeare. Quite frankly, I think public school is doing a complete injustice by waiting until high school to present this literature, partially because of the behavior that I see from these students at these performances; they just do not appreciate the literary genius that is Shakespeare. I truly have to thank Ambleside Online for putting it into their curriculum otherwise I might also have fallen into the same trap and not started Shakespeare early. This is now the 6th or 7th play we have done of Shakespeare and I am seeing where my boys are picking up bits of Shakespeare's style in his speech, in his vocabulary, in his wording and this time even purposely memorizing favorite parts of the play. My youngest even specifically looked for a copy at the library to read along with when we got to the audio. I hope their love of this never dies and that they continue to appreciate Shakespeare's work.
If you can make it to this performance it was very cleverly done and stayed true to Shakespeare's language yet throwing some artistic twists into scenes and characters that it made this quite a wonderful performance.
Mom: Fine. How was last night? (last night being Halloween)
Me: Fine ~ cautious but still cheerful
Mom: Well, what did you do?
Me: Not a lot. I flubbed up the popcorn balls because I read the recipe wrong but the kids still liked it and we watched a movie.
Mom: You didn't go out? (out meaning trick or treating) ~ now she's cautious but cheerful
Me: No, we stayed in. The kids carved their pumpkins, ate flat popcorn balls and watched a sweet Hallmark movie called Loves Abiding Joy - it is a Christian movie.
Mom: And you didn't take the boys out? (out meaning trick or treating) ~ now in a more questioning tone ignoring the Christian movie bit
Me: Well, no mom. We really don't celebrate Halloween.
~ brief silence
Mom: Well, you carved pumpkins didn't you - that is celebrating Halloween isn't it? (carved meaning into Jack o' Lanterns) ~ now sarcastic
Me: well, yes mom, we carved our pumpkins but we basically only took all the seeds out to cook them because I stuff them with a filling and then we ate them... for dinner... stuffed... that is our tradition. ~ polite
Mom: well, then if all your doing is eating pumpkins and then that is no different than celebrating Thanksgiving! ~ judgmental
Me: well then I guess we celebrated Thanksgiving ~ polite trying to be cheery but failing miserably
Mom: and you didn't let the boys put on costumes? (costumes meaning costumes and out trick or treating)
Me: mom these boys put on costumes every day. Just yesterday I had a jester and a knight doing pre-algebra. I'm not sure a day goes by when they don't wear a costume. Mom, they really didn't want to go out ~ trying to be lighthearted and cheerful
I just had to share how cuuuuutie my mom's tea tray turned out. Dh found these picture frames in the trash -- nothing wrong with them but one needed glass. Then when the kids were decorating for fall they found all the pressed leaves from an excursion we went on last year and I remembered that I wanted to make this tray but at the time I didn't have a frame (figured I'd look for one at a garage sale and then promptly forgot about it until now). Well, the leaf one turned out so cute I thought I would do a tray for my mom's birthday but I thought she would appreciate pictures instead so I had some copied sepia colored and I think it turned out so nice. The best thing about this is my tray only cost $3 for the door handles. Mom's was a little more because of the pictures, the new glass and we bought a little more expensive door handles but still only totaled to $7. Might make a cute Christmas present if you are in the need for an idea and super easy:
After my week long procrastination about going to get groceries I FINALLY went last night. I actually do enjoy shopping -- it is the shopping with kids that about does me in and dh took all the boys to the hardware store so I got to go shop alone -- don't really like doing it by myself either but I don't know who I would want to go with me LOL. ANYHOW my stress-free, without kids, list in hand, ready to enjoy and take my time shopping excursion turned into the most infuriating trip I have ever experienced because......
THEY HAD CHRISTMAS MUSIC PLAYING!!!!!!!
I was so mad -- like I need to be reminded that it is coming BEFORE Halloween! Like I need to hear Deck the Halls knowing that my halls are still stuffed with work that has to be finished before Christmas; like I need to reminded that the Sugar Plums this year are costing me more and the Making A List & Checking it Twice hasn't even started. ARGH! I came home so piping mad that dh was willing to call the store manager but I calmed down. It still makes me mad though. So the stress begins
Our family really doesn't celebrate Halloween. In the past, we have done multiple things to try and honor G-d on this night such as serving others, trick-or-treating for UNICEF, and even going to our annual church "harvest" festival dressed in Biblical costumes, all which were fun at the time but seem empty today. My heart hurts for the world and what it sees as harmless fun and okay. This year the kids and I have decided to stay home and avoid it all; partially because of my own convictions but partially because our church has decided to make this night a "fund raising" event for their missions groups. I'm appalled that they have turned an opportunity to reach out to the unsaved into a means of making money. It sickens my heart. My kids don't really have the desire to go to a different church event with people and kids they don't know just for a bit of candy so we have decided to just stay home and watch a movie (Wizard of Oz or something fun), make popcorn balls and maybe some caramel apples but no harvest festivals or costumes this year. It is tradition that I make two stuffed pumpkins to eat - one a bit spicy and the other like an apple dessert so we will also carve those and I thought I would throw these lovely pumpkin devotionals into the night as well:
I have one of those table top chalkboards that the chalk just doesn't seem to work on it anymore. You know when the chalk seems to be writing on wax or something? It is so frustrating. Well, I googled how to restore it and found this remedy using WD-40 that I was leery about but guess what? It worked though not entirely perfect, it is much better than it was and here are a million other uses for the stuff -- who knew?:
1) Protects silver from tarnishing.
2) Removes road tar and grime from cars.
3) Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.
4) Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making it slippery.
5) Keeps flies off cows.
6) Restores and cleans chalkboards.
7) Removes lipstick stains.
8) Loosens stubborn zippers.
9) Untangles jewelry chains.
10) Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.
11) Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.
12) Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.
13) Removes tomato stains from clothing.
14) Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.
15) Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.
16) Keeps scissors working smoothly.
17) Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes
18) It removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor! Use WD- 40 for those nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring. It doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off. Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.
19) Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly! Use WD-40!
20) Gives a child's play gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.
21) Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers.
22) Rids kids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises.
23) Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open.
24) Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.
25) Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.
26) Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.
27) Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.
28) Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.
29) Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.
30) Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.
31) Removes splattered grease on stove.
32) Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.
33) Lubricates prosthetic limbs.
34) Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).
35) Removes all traces of duct tape.
36) Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain.
37) Florida's favorite use is: "cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers."
38) The favorite use in the state of New York WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.
39) WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a LITTLE on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose. Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some states.
40) Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.
41) WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag.
42) Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and re-wash. Presto! Lipstick is gone!
43) If you sprayed WD-40 on the distributor cap, it would displace the moisture and allow the car to start.
44) Keep a can of WD-40 in the kitchen; it is good for oven burns or any other type of burn. It takes the burned feeling away and heals with NO scarring.
The basic ingredient is FISH OIL.
Note: IF WD-40 doesn't fix it - in true southern style - get out the duct tape! LOL
We just heard that those ridiculous pictures that we did last week, under the gun; the pictures that were crazy hard that took A LOT of thought and had us all thinking we should NEVER do another contest again in our lives, the contest that started my 3day migraine headache, that we turned in with the paint just barely dry, 10 minutes before the deadline,
well......
My two older sons BOTH got 2nd place!!!!!!!! My 7th grader won $125 and my 5th grader will receive $50 --- oh man I wish I could spend their money LOL And even though my youngest didn't place, when I asked him what he learned from this, he said, "I learned that G-d has given me gifts and talents and I need to use them more often" --- lessons learned and as the commercial goes... PRICELESS!
The pictures had the theme "Our Destiny, Our Culture for Now and the Future" and these are the what they submitted:
Boy, what a whirlwind we have been in but I thought I would update you.
We finally had our Rosh Hashanah meal on Friday night and it was nice but didn't go at all as planned (starting to think that maybe I should stop planning anything due to dh's crazy job and even crazier schedule LOL). Dh had gone early that morning to BIL's to build the stilts for the boys beds and he thought he would be back by 3pm finished. Well, BIL got very elaborate and they weren't even slightly ready at 6p and dh was completely frustrated. His brother just belittles him so much and my dh buys into it so he comes home feeling defeated - big brothers can be really mean. I was expecting dh home for a nice evening so I had started preparing our Rosh Hashanah meal since this was the first evening that he had off but my girlfriend stopped by to drop off some things that they had forgotten for the pool table. That ended up being a longer visit than expected and so I was rushed to prepare the meal and then it didn't seem right not to invite the BIL since it was dinner time and he was here and he had been working all day on our stuff but I already know that he doesn't understand why we celebrate the feast days so I wasn't at all comfortable doing the prayers and everything that I planned for the meal (mostly because I feel like I should be able to explain it all and G-d has already shown me that I don't need to understand it completely to do it but BIL would need an explanation). I am kinda grateful that we ended up not because at one point my BIL makes the comment (to my oldest son mind you), "so y'all are Old Testament folks and you don't believe in the New Testament" -- I just hate having to justify EVERYTHING we do! Luckily that didn't turn into a confrontation, my oldest son explained enough and I am still trying to blow the comment off. Thankfully a girlfriend reminded me that, "Our celebrations of the feasts and Shabbot are not supposed to look like everyone else [I believe]. This is something personal between us and God. We, too, can fall into legalism/traditions of man when we mimic too closely the Jews or others keeping the feast/sabbaths. Know that He is pleased with what you are doing. You are remembering His Feasts and honoring His Sabbaths!" It is so nice to have like minded friends.
The meal was nice even though I have discovered that my oven is no longer closing properly so my whole wheat challah had a very hard crust. I wanted to have a whole fish this year (the fish with a head represents that we should be as a head, and not a tail in the new year) but the only whole fish I could find were lots of whole Tilapia's which were VERY bony and their spines did not pull out nice (possibly because my oven is cooking so badly). I tried to make the most of it but my dh HATES picking out bones and my kids get extremely frustrated with it so that wasn't nice at the table listening to everyone complain however the fish tasted fine (funny story - I didn't know how to cook the Tilapia's and the Fish cookbook I had didn't give a recipe and recommended NOT buying or cooking this fish because it supposedly tasted like mud!!! ours didn't but my expectations for the evening were pretty much shot at that point). We also had orange glazed carrots & beets, saffron rice and zucchini with of course apples & honey. I ran out time to make a honey cake so ended up making an upside down apple cake instead -- BIL hates cooked apples and because it was a change to the menu I had no ice cream to go with the apple upside down cake (though having ice cream would have not made it kosher so I guess it turned out all good. BIL had left over German Chocolate bday cake ).
In the end these were all minor difficulties that I just needed to get over and it turned out nice just not at all like I had hoped but it still honored G-d. The cool thing was that the next day at Flamenco my 2ds was talking to a family who celebrate the Jewish feasts (I don't know if they are Jewish or not) and the mom wants to meet me (I haven't done that yet) and she even explained a few more things to my ds who was even more excited that we had done it so G-d confirmed that even though "I" felt like I did a "half" job it was still good that I did it and we honored G-d.
LOL now on to the next event which btw is also delayed-- but what's new?
Boil the water first, then measure and add sugar, at the rate of 1/4 cup of sugar to 1 cup of water.
Let cool and store excess in refrigerator until ready to use.
Do not add food coloring, honey (which ferments), or artificial sweetener, which has no nutritional value.
You will need to clean your feeder about once a week. According to the National Audubon Society, this should be done by rinsing with one part white vinegar to four parts water. If the feeder is dirty, try adding a few grains of dry rice to the vinegar solution to help scrub it clean. Follow the vinegar wash by rinsing three times with clear, warm water before refilling with sugar solution.
We are so hooked on this game show that when I found a board game version at my local Big Lots I just couldn't pass it up. This board game came with its own little stand-up gameboard, money, dice, clickers and questions with answers but we have dumped the questions until AFTER the Bible Bee. Instead we are using the massive amount of Bible Knowledge category questions that the kids will need to know for the Bee (not to mention reviewing their Bible Memory verses). It has truly been an excellent way to review and learn these questions. I really am glad that this time I didn't skimp and do it myself because 1) the "bought" version saved me loads of time 2) the "bought" version will last longer and is easier to store than the poster board idea I had going & 3) we could start right away.
That's not to say that the homemade cardboard version would be bad because 1) it would have bigger letters so easier to read & 2) it would have saved me $10 bucks because index cards and envelopes cut in half for pockets, I already have around here. I may still make the homemade version but I definitely see the HUGE potential this will be in our school this coming year. I plan to use this on a weekly basis to review what was learned through the week. Everything from spelling, math, history to art appreciation can be questioned and reviewed. This is also a great tool for open book study where an answer is given and the first one to find the correct question wins (LOL that sounded backwards). Can you tell how excited I am? I may even have the kids come up with categories and questions of their own because played proper we will be learning or reviewing 61 facts or key points each game (being the game host I cheat a little and repeat some questions again just to see if they were listening). It was a blast! P.S. There are quite a few power point versions and templates online that you can use but 1) I need to learn how to use power point and 2) I think I spend enough time on the computer so it is nice to play a game somewhere away from my desk. Here are a few links to help you get started with your own versions (& save $10 bucks):
Last weekend we found not one but TWO Salton 5 cup yogurt makers at a garage sale for $5 bucks. Now yogurt is something we go through A LOT of. When I am out of sour cream I use yogurt. When we are out of pancake syrup we use yogurt. When we are out of milk we use yogurt. Yogurt is a staple at our house and if I could afford it I would buy goat's milk yogurt because that is the BEST. Sorry a bit distracted - back to the yogurt maker. Now I know that there are simpler ways then buying a machine and one can even use ones own crock pot to make the creamy tangy stuff but five bucks -- who could go wrong with five bucks? and since the kids can do it on their own in this machine then easier for me. 1ds12y read the directions before me, cleaned both machines and was just hopping to get started so last night we put the whole sha-bang to work and you know what? It worked! We had delicious yogurt this morning without fillers and preservatives (we always sweeten our own so they know nothing about the kiwi gava go-go bean flavored stuff).
It actually was not at all monumental and proclaimed, "It tastes like yogurt". ~ what? like it was supposed to taste like angel food cake??? 1ds12y had quite the culinary experiment making a variety of flavors. I of course am still looking for the creamiest tastiest yogurt that I had some 20 years ago in Germany with my raw oatmeal (I loved raw oatmeal but always thought it was just a quirk of my own and had no idea that other cultures preferred their oatmeal uncooked. Since then RAW eating has taken on a mind of its own and everyone eating raw seems to know about my fetish). The bed and breakfast I stayed at in Germany, served it with a selection of cold cuts and cheese and I will always remember that as being a bit odd for breakfast. however my search for the yogurt continues. I have come close with goats milk but not quite so we also tried Creme Bulgare which is the same yogurt process made with straight creme instead of only milk. This too was delicious and so easy my child has declared himself the yogurt making expert though he thought that the coffee flavored one sounded a bit odd - I concurred. I may even get the gumption to put some to drain in a cheese cloth and make labneh (strained yogurt that is similar to cream cheese). It has been the best $5 bucks I've spent in a long time (okay the 2nd best because the $5 yard sale hammock was better - its all a win win situation). Now I need a cow to keep us in cream and milk so we can make lots of YOGURT either that or a goat LOL.
YOGURT FLAVORS:
CHOCOLATE - ds used chocolate syrup, hot chocolate mix and a touch of powdered cocoa for taste LOL
MULBERRY - used only the mulberry syrup that was canned back in May. It needed no other sweetener
VANILLA - vanilla and honey
APPLE CINNAMON - used applesauce, cinnamon & honey
CREME BULGARE was too delicious on its own to add anything but it would be decadent with any of the above
I have mixed emotions today and it is fitting that in this Jewish month of Elul where prayers for forgiveness are to be said that I personally will need to dig deep for the sadness I feel. You see today,Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, the only man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, the flight I worked the day after this horrific event, the flight in which 270 people died, of which were 16 of my fellow coworkers -- this man was allowed by Scottish officials to return to Libya on compassionate grounds because he is dying of prostate cancer. Obama warned Libya not to give this man a hero's welcome yet he returned to cheering crowds. I just don't know. Some say that the man is innocent claiming it was Iran behind the bombing yet Libyan terrorist groups were hard at work in 1988 and it was a difficult time to be a flight attendant. One broadcast stated that Abdel only served 11 DAYS for each person who died yet he claims even now that he is innocent. My soul hurts. I must find it in my heart to forgive. Scottish residences will also need to forgive the 30,000 pound price tag (that is $49,524 in US dollars!!!) because the RAF had no suitable helicopters to transport him. And he too will need to ask for repentance & forgiveness, soon I take it because his doctors have given him only 3 months to live. I don't wish him dead. I wish for the truth to be known and I wish for the evil in the world to go away. The crew that I remember and loved deserved more than this and I'm sure their families wish they could have had 3 months more with them. How saddened G-d must feel about the atrocities of this world. I pray I can find it in my heart to let this go and forgive.
Pan Am Flight 103 Crew
Avonye, Nichole Elizabeth, flight attendant, 44 years, born 05.05.44, Croissy-Sur-Seine, France, French
Avritt, Jerry Don, flight engineer, 46 years, born 30.07.42, Westminster, California, American
Berti, Noelle Lydie, flight attendant, 40 years, born 24.12.47, Paris, France, American
Engstrom, Siv Ulla, flight attendant, 51 years, born 21.09.37, Berkshire, England, Swedish
Franklin, Stacie Denise, flight attendant, 20 years, born 16.02.68, San Diego, California, American
Garrett, Paul Isaac, flight attendant, 41 years, born 16.11.47, Napa, California, American
Kuehne, Elke Etha, flight attendant, 43 years, born 17.03.45, Hanover, Germany, German
Larracoechea, Maria Nieves, flight attendant, 39 years, born 03.03.49, Madrid, Spain, Spanish
MacQuarrie, James Bruce, captain, 55 years, born 30.09.33, Kensington, New Hampshire, American
McAlolooy, Lilibeth Tobila, flight attendant, 27 years, born 02.11.61, Kelsterback, Germany, American
Murphy, Mary Geraldine, purser, 51 years, born 14.05.37, Middlesex, England, British
Reina, Jocelyn, flight attendant, 26 years, born 26.05.62, Isleworth, England, American
Royal, Myra Josephine, flight attendant, 30 years, born 20.12.58, London, England, American
Skabo, Irja Syhnove, flight attendant, 38 years, born 03.07.50, Oslo, Norway, American
Velimirovich, Milutin, chief purser, 35 years, born 14.10.53, Middlesex, England, American
Wagner, Raymond Ronald, first officer, 52 years, born 18.01.36, Pennington, New Jersey, American
2 cups of water 1 cups of vinegar 2/3 cups of any hair conditioner
Mix in spray bottle and stir. Don’t shake, this will cause foaming. Spray on a cloth rag until slightly damp and throw into the dryer with your load of clothes. This can also be used as a liquid fabric softener in the rinse cycle.
I ran across this over at The Grocery Cart and thought it might be a good idea to try since I am drying more on the clothesline these days. I like the crunch that sun dried clothes have but lately they are a bit on the hard side so we will see how well this works. I usually don't buy fabric softener because I can't stand the smell but I can control the smell with this homemade one and the cost.
an American jazz and country guitarist, songwriter and inventor. He was a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar which "made the sound of rock and roll possible". He is credited along with his wife Mary Ford, with many recording innovations, including overdubbing (also known as sound on sound), delay effects such as tape delay, phasing effects, and multitrack recording. His music will be missed.
Conversations with myself about the triumphs and tribulations of being a Mama Bear to 3 baby bears, a helpmeet, a CM AO Hs teacher, a Flybaby, a daughter of Eve and a princess to the King.
This morning we went to the school performance of Shakespeare's As You Like It performed by the 
