Bad day

I have had a lousy day today. It is a simple case of "being too tired to motivate the unmotivated!" Four hours of motivating one stubborn child to do 3 simple 10 minute pages of math is just plain obnoxious. Why Lord? Why? At what point will this child realize that if she waists my day, her life is miserable? She is unloading the dishwasher with an angry streak and then she gets to do her English. But I don't think I have anymore motivation potion left. I don't want to help her anymore today. Yes, her life is really miserable today. And the Mommy needs a vacation, retreat or something to restore smiles back in our house.

Balloons Science

Pat is coordinating the Light Dad's Science Day this year in May. This year the theme will be balloons. We have been looking at and trying out different science experiments and having a little too much fun. My poor kitchen showed the signs of a mad scientist at work with lots of balloon body parts scattered and water every where. After all of the experiments, I struggled with getting the kids to start regular school. I guess that was my mistake, science before regular school!?! What was I thinking? Vicky is still doing different experiments with balloons, like the picture above. She is measuring and charting a water balloon as it freezes. Every 30 minutes she is taking it out and measuring it. Will it change size? Bigger or smaller? And my question is, "When will she get tired and stop doing these science experiments?" It has been one after another for 2 days. I can't keep up!

My menu for Jan 26-Feb 1

You can find my menu on my other website
Here is the link http://hope-love-and-joy.blogspot.com/2009/01/menu-for-january-26th-february-1st.html

I Submitted a Recipe and Won

Our Group Won I had to post this on both sites, because it is so exciting for our family. It has really helped my Gluten Free baking confidence.


I submitted a recipe to Toro - Taste Like Real Food Contest for the Best Use of Whole Meal Bread. You can view all the winners at http://www.tasteslikerealfood.com/latest/



You can also view all of the winning recipes at http://www.tasteslikerealfood.com/baking-contest-winners.html



I made Drop Buiscuits and sent the recipe in September 2008. They were so good that I had a feeling about them. It was such a treat to enjoy buiscuits again. It was the first buiscuit that the kids and I had for 3 years.

Here is the recipe for OUR AWARD WINNING DROP BUISCUITS!

Drop BiscuitsWinner: Best Use of Whole Meal Bread
Preheat oven to 425 F

1 1/2 cup of Toro Whole Meal Bread Mix
1/2 cup of corn starch
2 tsp xantham gum
1 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup milk, soy milk or rice milk
2 large eggs


1. Grease cookie sheet well.
2. In medium size bowl, add the dry ingredients and mix well with a fork. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, blend in the butter, milk and egg until well blended. Add the dry ingredients and blend the dough until well blended. Mixture will be sticky.
4. Dip spoon in water and drop dough onto cookie sheet leaving enough room for biscuits to rise and spread while baking. (I use a cookie/ ice cream spoon with a release. Forming a 1 inch drop biscuit seems to bake the best.)
5. Bake in pre-heated 425 F oven for 12 - 20 minutes depending on the size of the biscuits. Biscuits are done when they have a nice brown look on the top.
6. Cool and enjoy.


Visit us at our groups website - Gluten Free Kids R.O.C.K. http://gf-kids-rock.tripod.com/

Does Tomorrow's Economy = Fear and Worry?

I have been washing my zip lock bags, because I have been trying to be frugal. We no longer have a Cosco card and I just can't stomach buying a little box of zip lock bags for the going price. And then one of my friends has been talking about her fears about the possibility of no more plastic bags and so I have been saving and even washing out my produce bags and saving them. I did think it was a little over doing it. On Friday, one of my friends asked me, "And what are you going to do with those bags?" I honestly don't know. (Thanks J, I now know I am being ridiculous) The first thought I had was what the Flylady would say about this..... Really now, why are we saving our garbage? To add to the clutter?

I have been worried about the economy since last Fall. Afraid for what life will be like soon. The gas prices have caused our family to have to cut our budget. Things cost more now and our income is less. I know that I am not the only one with these fears and worries. My friends have been talking about frugal, making things, saving things, and being self sufficient. These are all good things, but I believe we are motivated for the wrong reasons.


For the month that followed 9/11 we had the news on every waking moment. Fear of terrorist blowing up our malls was one I shared with many. I was truly depressed. I called my pasture and before I could ramble on, he interrupted with these words... "What do you fear?"


My remember my response seemed so lame at that moment. As lame as believing in monsters in the closet.

My pasture's next response was....
"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear." 1 John 4:18
"Then you will know the truth , and the truth will set you free." John 8:32


And how does this apply to now?


What do I fear?
-hunger, will there be enough money to feed us?
-cold, will we be able to pay our electric bill?
-homeless, will we lose our home?
-etc...


This all shows that I lack faith in God to provide for my needs.


What is the truth?
-God will always provide food. (Just for a giggle - Worse case scenario, we could eat raccoon, pigeons, and seagulls. lol By the way, I have a recipe for pigeon.)
-God will provide all of our clothing and means to keep us warm. Look around, don't we already have plenty.
-God will provide shelter. If we do lose our home, we will just rent a home or apartment.

And here is the truth that will set us free from our worry and fears about our economy.

From Matthew 6:25-34
Do Not Worry
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

So enough worrying about tomorrow, I am going to practice this truth and be set free.

Yum, Crockpot Tamale Pie Recipe - My Review!

I made Crockpot Tamale Pie tonight and I really liked it. Best of all, it was so easy to make. I decided to post it, because I wanted to make sure I didn't lose this recipe. You can find the original post at the website below.

Crockpot Tamale Pie
Recipe from Stephanie O'dea
http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/04/crockpot-tamale-pie-recipe.html

Cornbread topping:
-3/4 cup cornmeal
-1 1/4 cup flour (Stephanie used Pamela's baking mix) {I used Betty Hagman's Buiscuit Mix}
-1 cup milk {I used rice milk}
-1/4 cup sugar
-1 egg
-1 t baking powder (only if not using Pamela's or similar gluten free baking mix that already has baking powder added) {I did add it}

The Filling.
Stephanie made hers Vegetarian
-1lb of your favorite browned meat if you'd like.
-1 can drained and rinsed black beans {I used pinto beans}
-1 can fire roasted tomatoes {I used regular diced tomatoes and added 1 tsp of chili pepper}
-1 can drained corn
-1 T chili powder
-1 t cumin
-1/2 t paprika
-1/4 cup diced onion {I used more, about a cup}
-1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese {I used shredded soy cheese, but next time I think I will do without. It has enough flavor.}

Spray your crockpot with cooking spray. Dump in the filling ingredients--cheese, too!-- and stir well to distribute the spices. You will not be able to stir this again, so please check to see that the spices aren't in a clump anywhere.

In a separate bowl, mix together the cornbread topping. When finished, pour evenly over the filling, spreading with a spatula if needed.

Cover and cook on low for 4-7 hours or on high for 2-4.

Rockets, Sand, and Waves!

Sunday, my wonderful husband decided we were all piling into the car and going to the coast to enjoy the beautiful weather.

Here is my husband - Pat, The Great!!!

(I did get one with out the thumb, but I knew he would want this one posted instead)

We arrive in the parking lot at Washburn park and the thermometer read 65 deg. No fog, no wind. Just beautiful.
Liz on the beach, thinking about getting those toes wet.

Vicky on the beach with wet toes. Can't delay that with this one.

All three of my puppies playing chase with the waves.
Misty liked attacking the waves by biting them.

Looking for sand crabs and shrimp..........

Vicky digging holes and finding sand creatures.

Liz digs and captures the sand creature!

Captain Pat reading the codes to launch the rocket. Shhhhh! Top Secret from NASA

(Look, no thumb... A total of 6 shots of my dear husband in one day without the thumb. Wow it is my lucky day!)

Assembling the rocket.

Getting ready for the count down.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4,

3, 2, 1 BLAST OFF!!!!

It shot up over 600 feet and we lost sight with the camera, but here it is coming down.

Liz runs after it.

And here it is.

We launched four rockets before one was captured by the sea and swept away.

Liz was heartbroken and we had to stop her from running into the tide after it. :(

Daddy Pat - The Great saves the day and gives her his rocket. Yes, he has a rocket too. :)

I tried to capture two of these on video with my camera, but I didn't know what I was doing. Instead I have video up to the beginning of the count down. :(

Time to go walk the beach.

The intriguing piece of driftwood before it was time to leave.

Ranch Dressing and Beerocks Casserole Recipe

I posted a Ranch Dressing Recipe and Beerocks Casserole Recipe on my Gluten Free Blog. You can view them at Love, Hope, and Joy

Sheri's Smoothies - Easiest way to add fiber

Sheri's Smoothies - Easiest way to add fiber

-1 or 2 banana's
-Handful of frozen berries/fruit (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries or any type of fruit)
-Handful of a different type of frozen berry/fruit1/4 to 1/2 cup of yogurt/milk/soy milk/rice milk or orange juice
-1 to 2 tbsp of ground flax seed
-2 Tbsp of orange juice concentrate
-1 or 2 raw egg (optional)
-Honey of real maple syrup to sweeten if needed

In a blender, add all of the ingredient. Blend on high until well blended. Addmore liquid if needed. Taste and add sweetener if needed. Serve in a glass with love and a smile.


To learn more about fiber, read my article on my Gluten Free Blog at
http://hope-love-and-joy.blogspot.com/

My Menu and recipes link for Jan 12-18 2009

I posted my menu on my gluten free blog. Instead of posting everything again, I thought I would post a link instead.

http://hope-love-and-joy.blogspot.com/2009/01/january-12-18-menu.html

Liz's Clean Room

I had to post this because I am so proud of her. She worked really hard last week and finished this week. Even though she doesn't believe in The House Fairy, she still wants me to post them. Yes, for this she does derserve something special. I am thinking a date with Mom would be special.

She also removed lots of garbage, 1 box of toys, and 1 box of things that belonged other areas in the house. Way to go Liz!!!!

Good-bye Bell

Do you know the theme song for "Old Yeller?" Well that is the theme song of our four pawed faithful friend, Bell. We changed a word here and there.

"Old Beller!

Come back Beller!
Best dog gone dog in the West!"

And she was the best dog in the world.

We rescued her from the pound in 2001. She was quiet and sweet. She didn't bark for the first 4 months. She was already well trained, except for the leash. She liked to lead and drag you down the street. She loved to go with us on trips, but hated car rides and would whine constantly while we drove down the road. She was very proper and polite to other dogs, just as long as they kept their nose away from her privates. For a treat she would dance, roll over, say she loved you "arf, arf, arf", shake hands, catch the treat in the air, and sit pretty.

I will always remember....

-How she would pull us up heal when we were hiking.

-Greet everyone who came to the door with a lick.

-Herd us when we would go in four different directions on the beach.

-Run from the vacuum.

-Follow the kids when they went out to play.

-Chase the neighbor kids who were afraid of her, just because she thought they were playing.

-Beg for treats from the neighbor while he was in his UPS uniform. She knew that is when he had them.

-That Bell did not like to get her paws muddy if at all possible. I built a cement path in the back yard and she used it faithfully.

-Bell didn't like to swim, but she liked to rescue sticks floating at the edge of the water.

-She loved to mother chicks. She would put her nose down by them and talk to them in a gentle tone.

-She loved kids and was gentle with babies. She never bit.

-She was an escape artist and then would wait for us in the driveway while we were gone.

-And many more memories.

She also suffered from allergies. It started with flea allergies and later food and pollen. Eventually she was on low doses of prednisone, that gave us an extra year with her. And when the ear and skin infections became a chronic condition, we just couldn't watch her suffer anymore.

So on Monday, January 5th 2009 we enjoyed our last day with her. We hugged her, took her on her last walks, and spoiled her with her treats. We all cried on her last trip to the vet. We tried not to cry in front of her, but at the vet, we could not hold back any longer. We said good-bye. And then cried all the way home.

Her corner is very empty now that she is gone and we miss her. She will always be in our hearts as the "best dog in the west."

estimated birth 2000 - January 5th, 2009