i have to say...

happy

I hope your weekend is filled with happiness!

makin' stuff

So far my pile of fabric has yielded a few little goodies, but first and foremost is Aubry's skirt.  I used this tutorial for the skirt. Don't worry, if I can do the algebra problems to figure the measurements, you can do the algebra problems, too! 

The doll is Aubry's arms is her creation.  All I did was thread the needle and tie a knot in her thread.  She designed, cut and sewed the whole thing. 

I sense a crafting partner in my future!

Next up are aprons, and lots of them:

This is one of three designs:

So far, my pattern-creating attempts have been successful in all areas, expect for the computer.  As usual.  I did figure out how to convert a document to PDF, but it doesn't seem to work for the size I need (22" X 22"), so I am trying other ways to make this happen.  Doing new things on the computer is always filled with frustration, but I usually prevail over the technology.

***Success---with a little technical help from the lady at Kinko's, I now have a full-sized pattern made!  More to come soon...

My craft area is a gigantic mess these days.  There is no room on the table, so I just keep piling things higher and higher:

Have I ever mentioned that messes drive me crazy?  My brain feels all rattled when I am trying to get something done in the middle of a mess.   This doesn't, however, slow me down enough to clean up!

Have a great Wednesday!
 

this is what laundry day looks like at my house:

we are geocachers

We needed a new family hobby.  As kids grow bigger, it is easy for mom and dad to miss the clues that reveal the need for something new, something more adventurous and fun.

Thankfully, we have discovered geocaching.   A friend recommended this site where we searched our area (there are over 1,700 geocaches within our zip code!) and picked an easy destination.

Because we had no idea how to use a GPS, we ended up going in the wrong direction and walking about one mile more than necessary, but we got it figured out and headed back.

In the tunnel my kids said, "Hey, Mom, you can't take our picture in here!"

I guess they forgot about the flash:

Once we had our bearings, we were able to spy the treasure under a rock:

Aubry got to pick from the stash--a fabulous piece of sidewalk chalk!:

We neglected to bring an item to leave, so we ended up leaving a pen.  Next time we will plan ahead and bring something fun:

Signing our names in the book:

We already have another geocaching adventure set for next weekend, weather permitting.   A packed lunch,  a better gift to leave in the box, and friends will accompany us this time as we set out on our treasure hunt.

I wonder what we will find!

homeschooling news

Did you know:

"...on Thursday, February 28th, The Second Appellate District in Los Angeles County ruled that a homeschooling family from Southern California...did not have a right to “homeschool” under the California Constitution unless the parent is a credentialed tutor."

You can sign a petition to request depublishing of this case here.

Governor Schwarzenegger issued this statement:

"Every California child deserves a quality education and parents should have the right to decide what’s best for their children. Parents should not be penalized for acting in the best interests of their children's education. This outrageous ruling must be overturned by the courts and if the courts don't protect parents' rights then, as elected officials, we will.”

I hope so!

the heart of the matter

The new issue of The Heart of the Matter is out today.  If you are homeschooling, or are interested in it, please check it out!

the recipe box swap

Welcome to The Recipe Box Swap---Money-Saving Recipes!

If you would like to participate, post your recipe on your own blog, and then leave your name and post URL (this is located in the address bar at the top of your computer screen) in the auto-link below.

Since this is a recipe swap, please feel free to copy recipes and pictures from the recipe posts, unless the blog author says otherwise.  I have started a 3-ring binder just for these recipes and the pictures help to remind me what the finished products should look like.

Happy cooking! 

***My post for The Recipe Box Swap is below this one, in order to avoid a mile-long post!  I also added my name to the auto-link so that the post is easier to get to.

money-saving recipes--mexican food

***A recipe for Spanish Rice is below.

My family loves mexican food, which is good because we eat it all the time.  We buy a package of 90 corn tortillas every couple of weeks (this costs $3.00) and we use them in a variety of ways. 

Tortillas can be warmed on the burner of your stove or in a skillet, and they can also be fried to make chips (these taste so much better than any chips in a bag!) or taco/tostadas shells. 

To fry the tortillas, heat 1 inch of oil in a large skillet.   (When I fry food in oil I always have the kids stay out of the kitchen for safety.)

--For chips: Cut the tortillas into 6 pieces (I usually cut them like a pie, but you can also cut strips) and then fry them until crisp.  Add some salt.

--For taco shells: Place a whole tortilla in the heated oil and when it becomes slightly bubbly, fold it in half.  Cook these until they are almost crisp, but still pliable.

--For tostada shells: Place a whole tortilla in the heated oil and cook until crispy.

--For a lowfat version, you can bake tortillas in the oven (400 degrees) until crisp.

Once they are cooked, all you have to do is top/fill them with something tasty and a little spicy:

--Saute red, yellow and green peppers with some onions and garlic.  Add a can of black beans and wrap in a tortilla.

--Add chicken to the above mix, if desired.

--Top tortilla chips with seasoned ground beef, beans and cheese (nachos).

--When you find roasts on sale at the grocery store for $1.00 per pound, simply cook one in your crock pot, shred it, and wrap meat in a tortilla.

--To save money on meat, use 1/2 meat and 1/2 black beans or 1/2 cooked potatoes.

--Sprinkle some shredded cheese between two tortillas and heat in a skillet until melted (quesadillas).

--For tacos and tostadas: top with lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, cabbage, radishes, sour cream, cheese, salsa, hot sauce, etc., etc., etc.  (Don't use all of these at once!)

To season meats/beans/veggies, add a bit of cumin, oregano, basil, red pepper (this is hot!), garlic (use lots!), salsa, enchilada sauce, etc., etc., etc.  (Don't use all of these at once!)

Spanish Rice

1 cup brown rice (you can use white rice as long as you adjust your cooking time)
1-2 TB. cooking oil
1/3 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
2-1/4 cups water
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1/2 tsp. cumin
salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil in a saucepan and add the rice, onions and garlic:

Saute until lightly browned:

Add the water, sauce and spices, and bring to a boil.  Cover and cook over low heat for approximately 40-45 minutes, until water is absorbed and rice is tender.

This rice tastes great topped with salsa!

Happy cooking!

reading to my kids

Today you can find me at The Heart of the Matter talking about kids and books.

Hope to see you there!

***Don't forget about The Recipe Box Swap tomorrow!

and now we wait...

Seed starting is new to me.

This year gardening has been calling my name early, so I thought we would take the plunge.  Serious joy was had while digging through the dirt, even thought it came from a plastic sack.  Lettuces, spinach and some herbs are all tucked into their little pots, just waiting.

Everyday we have checked and rechecked for small sprouts, even though our planting was only a few days ago.  I think we may do the happy-dance when our friends make their first green appearance.

Did you know that you can make your own seed-starting pots using empty toilet paper rolls.  I found this tutorial too late, but I will do it this way on our next round of seeds.

...and now we wait...