August Learning Plans

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"August creates as she slumbers, replete and satisfied."
- Joseph Wood Krutch

Nature:
The Full Green Corn Moon - 5th
Sunflowers
Seashore
Fireflies
Watch for bats
Thunderstorms
Dragonflies
Morning Glories
Crows
Shooting Stars (Perseids peaks Aug. 12)


Folklore:
August birthstone: Peridot - means "Evening emerald", thought to bring happiness in marriage.
August Flowers: Poppy & Gladiolus

If the first week in August is unusually warm,
the coming winter will be snowy and long.

For every fog in August,
There will be a snowfall in winter.

If a cold August follows a hot July,
It foretells a Winter hard and dry.

Food:
Tomatoes
Corn
Apples
Blueberries
Butter beans
Grapes
Lettuce
Okra
Valencia Oranges

Home & Garden:
Weed flower beds; plant Autumn growing flowers such as pansy and calendula (marigold)
Bleach & scrub outdoor furniture
Trim cedar branches against house
Pressure wash home exterior
Wash curtains & blankets
Dust thoroughly
Clean windows inside & out
Paint front door

Life:
S'mores Day - 10th
Wizard of Oz premiered in 1939 - 18th
National Banana Split Day - 25th
Trail Mix Day - 31st

Book Basket: (Themes: blueberries, grain harvest, corn, crows, seashore)
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
Peter in Blueberry Land by Elsa Beskow
The Little Red Hen by Paul Gladone
Raccoons and Ripe Corn by Jim Arnosky
Pagoo by Holling C. Holling
Martha by Gennady Spirin

Field Trips & Outings:
Banana Splits at Sonic
Visit the farmer's market
Day at the beach
Army NG Family Day - 1st
Trevor's birthday party - 29th
Dentist appointment - 19th

Crafts & Activities:
Work in the garden
Bake homemade bread
Fill the bird feeder with sunflower seeds
Make tissue paper sunflowers
Gaze at the stars
Make felt shooting stars
Set up a nature table
Hang a bat house
Bug observation...my girls don't want to touch them :)
Karate classes

{Inspiration & ideas provided by Dawn}

Grocery Store Savings

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CVS Shopping Totals:
Total OOP: $32.35
Total Saved: $20.81
Rec'd $5 ECBs

Winn Dixie Shopping Totals:
Total OOP: $149.42
Total Saved: $86.64
Rec'd $10 WD coupon on $50+ order

Totals for Today:
Total OOP: $181.77
Total Saved: $107.45

The Heart of a Wild Woman

You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is yourself. ~Alan Alda

Homeschool Questions

A reader writes:

I find it really intriguing how a mother manages this besides all other things that are demanded of you, and being just one woman: what puzzles me: where is your OWN life and personality in all of this and WHEN do you rest..
***
Since God has seen fit to bless me with a husband, children, and a home of our own, I consider it my duty....my calling...to put my heart and soul into all I do, especially where my family is concerned. They, in essence, are my life by my choosing.

I find it quite liberating for I am able to focus my attentions on the things that really matter in life. Our home is a peaceful oasis because I put forth the effort to make it so.

Believe me, my personality shines through. Just ask my husband and children! I sing silly tunes when they say a phrase that is similar to one in a song...I simply can't help myself! I am silly, laugh heartily, sassy, creative, loyal, opinionated, nature-lovin' gal. There's no hiding this personality under a bushel.

As for rest, I try to go to bed at a decent hour and I usually take a nap every day after lessons are done. Lessons only take a few hours - not all day like public school - and then we're free to rest, play, and pursue our interests.

Do I wish I had more time for all of the things I'd like to do? Sure...what woman doesn't wish for more hours in her day? But my children are growing up so fast and in a few short years they will be ready to fly the nest. Then I'll have all the time in the world to do what I want. Until then, I want to give my children the best of me.

Thrifting Treasures

Pretty pillowcases - 3 sets for $2.99 each

A stack of books:
2 childrens books at 50 cents each
5 paperback books at $1.00 each

A 12 inch rabbit figurine - perfect for Spring & Easter decor - $1.99
Glass vase for 99 cents - I plan to use filled with coffee beans and a votive candle like Aunt Ruthie did in this blog post!

I love a good treasure hunt, don't you?

Gratitude List ~ Week 29

~ Watching Martha Stewart's show "Martha"

~ Thin cotton tees - so comfy to wear in the summer months!

~ Charity boxes are filling up. It feels so good to release the excess.

~ My new FlyLady calendar which has room to write appointments, birthdays and such.

~ I'm still loving my cute little purse that I won on Cathleen's blog!

Bargain Hunting

My first stop yesterday as I shopped for groceries was at CVS:

I purchased...
2 Strawberry Pop Tarts - 2/$4
2 gallons 2% milk - $2.79 each
Printer paper - $5
3 Pepsi 12pk. - 3/$11
1 Mountain Dew - FREE
Pencil Sharpener - $0.99
Duracell AA batteries 4 pk. - $2.99

Total OOP: $18.40

Total Saved: $29.75

****

Now on to Winn Dixie:

I purchased...

Martha Stewart Living - $4.99
5 boxes GM cereal - $1.99 each
5 # Sugar - $2.69
Corn chips & Nacho tortilla chips - $1.25 each
Meow-mix cat food - $3.99
Shredded Cheddar - 3/$5
Tidy Cat litter - $4.99
Hot dog & Hamburger buns - $1.25 each
Sara Lee bread - 2/$4
Garlic bread sticks - $2.50
32 oz. Ronco macaroni noodles - $2.50
Kraft BBQ sauce - BIGIF - $1.69
Taco sauce - $2.59
Daisy sour cream - $1.00
Cream of mushroom soup - $1.00
Cream of chicken soup - $1.00
2 Del Monte Green Beans - $1.00 each
Rotel mild tomatoes - $1.39
Ground beef - $5.09
Ore-Ida french fries - $3.79

Total OOP: $57.07

Total Saved: $31.81

****

Dinner menu plan for the week:

1.) Ham chops, mac & cheese, green beans

2.) King Ranch Chicken

3.) Hot dogs & chips

4.) Hamburgers & fries

5.) BBQ chicken, mac & cheese, green beans

6.) Spaghetti & garlic breadsticks

7.) Taco Salad

Homeschool Q and A

Question from a reader:

I really honestly don't get it that you can be a mom and a teacher at the same time. I have been a school manager for many years, in my country there is no homeschooling, or only, in an extraordinary case when the child is very handicapped. I am trying to learn more about how this goes and works for the child...is there a budget involved ? Do you need to be trained as a teacher already before you are allowed to homeschool ? Don't you get bored and irritated with one another? What about socializing and preparing for a demanding job later on in life ? All these questions come to mind...Many blogging ladies are homeschoolers. Many Christian women are homeschooling. How come ? Is this your culture ?

My answer:
I chose to homeschool my children to preserve our family time, to protect their fragile souls from bullies, drama, and mean spirited teachers, and because no one knows what is best for my children better than I do.

Homeschool laws and regulations vary from state to state. Some are strict and others are more relaxed. Personally, we are registered with a cover school. Others choose church schools or are teacher certified themselves.

My children are very well socialized. They take karate, attend a weekly church youth program, and are out and about living life, meeting new people, making friends. They easily speak with adults and other children. They have minds of their own and are not easily swayed by popular opinion and/or ideals.

I love my children and am so glad I have the freedom to homeschool! Sure we have our bad days occasionally. Who doesn't? But we have better relationships overall because we spend so much time together and we know each other.

As a one-income family we are careful with our finances, but we are able to give our children a quality education. There are resources all around - the use of the public library system, the Internet, buying used learning resources rather than new, or create your own curriculum if you so choose. I honestly don't believe you need an expensive curriculum for children are naturally curious little learning machines. They maintain their sense of wonder and love of learning when they are allowed to be creative and explore.

We work and play together. We have lively discussions. We explore, research, experiment, observe. We read books about subjects we are interested in, watch movies, make things. We are active with karate, running, bike-riding, walking, basketball, volleyball, scooter races, and hula-hooping. We bake and craft, put together puzzles, play board games, sing, dance, twirl. We have animals we love and care for. We believe in the Golden Rule.

My children are happy, healthy, and whole and that is really the heart of the matter, isn't it? I have no doubt that they will grow up to be fine young adults - responsible, respectful, and well-adjusted as they lead passionate, creative lives. I count it a privilege to be able to travel alongside them to help them achieve their dreams.

If Only

If you love good movies with romance and a twist, then you must watch If Only starring Jennifer Love Hewitt and Paul Nicholls!

After his impetuous musician girlfriend, Samantha, dies in an accident shortly after they had a fight (and nearly broke up), a grief-stricken British businessman, Ian Wyndham, living in London gets a chance to relive the day all over again, in the hope of changing the events that led up to her getting killed.

***

Today I'll be taking Kenzie to the doctor. Her throat is sore and the glands are swollen. I suspect it to be tonsillitis....poor girl!

Yesterday I took her shopping to spend her birthday money....$39 in all. She bought a pair of cute denim shorts, two tees, and a baby doll that opens and closes its eyes, sucks a pacifier, cries, babbles, and its tummt rises and falls when baby sleeps.

My sister gave her some of my neice's old baby clothes so she could change baby's clothes. Kenzie fashioned a crib out of a box and made it comfy for baby with blankets and a small pillow. So sweet!

What's happening in your world today?

*Update* It was strep throat. Ugh...but nothing medicine, popscicles and a little TLC won't cure! .::smile::.

Living and Learning

In less than three weeks, public school starts begins. Being homeschoolers, we have a lot more freedom and flexibility in our schedule and learning. I always loved shopping for new school supplies and to this day I still love supplies!

Over the summer I have been contemplating what I want this learning year to look like. We have a few textbooks to work through this year, but I was looking for, and found, an inspired way of learning. Dawn has posted wonderful themes and plans for the year that I plan to use with a few changes to personalize it for our family.

This is the kind of learning I would have loved as a child! Exploring, experiments, nature observation, reading good books, crafts, field trips, homemaking, holidays and celebrations, eating foods in season...making memories, building traditions, and having fun all while learning!

Learning just doesn't just happen while slaving over dry, boring textbooks. No! Learning happens through living every day life, pursuing hobbies and passions, taking notice of the world around you, conversations, reading, even watching tv. Learning is everywhere!

I am excited about the upcoming year and writing about our learning journey.

Snapshots

Grasshopper on caladiums

Rose

Morning Glories

Cluster of Morning Glories

My Bonsai tree

She is no longer a baby...

Today is Kenzie's birthday. She turns 9. As I look at her, I see a free spirit who is determined, energetic, creative, courageous, passionate, and fun-loving. She knows her inner Wild Woman already.

She runs in dresses with bare feet, plays in the rain, crafts, dreams, questions, explores, helps with baking and gardening, loves nature, has a quick wit, and knows exactly what she likes.

Oh, the wisdom she holds!

Making a wish as she blows out her candles...

My little artist at work...

Her first masterpiece!

Happy Birthday, Kenzie!
May the year ahead be filled with joy.
I love you!
xoxo

Gratitude List ~ Week 28

~ Inspiration gathered from magazines, books, movies, art, song, and nature.

~ Getting much accomplished in the span of 15 minutes.

~ Afternoon rain showers that break the unbearable heatwave.

~ After three years of growth my hair reaches the middle of my back.
Now if I can just grow out the layers!

~ Watching Paula Deen and Giada on Food Network. They make cooking look fun and easy!

What are you thankful for today?

The Girlhood Home Companion

Clothing Your Spirit in Beauty

From the Remembrance Press website:

The Girlhood Home Companion is a beautiful 4-color companion guide, magazine, and character study all rolled into one publication. The Girlhood encourages young ladies (ages 10-18) to enjoy their precious girlhood years while walking closely with the Lord and developing a deeper relationship with Him. Filled with the wisdom of writers from the past and present, each edition features encouraging articles and stories that center on one character quality per issue. Each theme is explored in-depth through editorials, articles, and stories that will minister to the heart of your daughter, while teaching her the practical skills of homemaking, cooking, crafts, sewing and other girlhood pastimes.

Originally produced from 1998 to 2001 and back by popular demand, there is nothing so lovingly designed with the heart of a Christian girl in mind as The Girlhood Home Companion. Ageless, it continues to inspire daughters, mothers, and grandmothers of all ages.

Girlhood's Most Cherished Lessons

This is one of the loveliest magazines I have seen and I gladly ordered the back issues pictured above to enjoy with my girls. I love the beautiful photos that show examples of femininity, offers craft projects and recipes, and shows the beauty of nature, home and garden, and the importance of living a beautiful life.

In this day and time, we need all the inspiration and encouragement we can gather.

Learning to FLY

In an effort to revitalize and revamp my life, I have made a few changes.

I have never been particularly style savvy, so I emailed a girl who offers free style advice and puts together online outfits based on your information and preferences. This will help me think outside the box in terms of style and will help choose figure flattering clothes in the future.

I also rejoined FlyLady to help motivate and inspire me to get rid of all the clutter in my home and life. Living with chronic illness as I do, I sometimes get overwhelmed with keeping house. I tend to clean like crazy, then crash and burn out of sheer exhaustion. My body pays dearly for this added stress. So, slow and steady wins the race from here on out.

I've asked Mama to bring me as many boxes as she can from work so I can pack up the clutter for Goodwill. I am even going to try a new recipe this week ~ Barbequed Chicken Pasta served with a Spinach Salad. Not my typical fare and it is a whole lot healthier. So it will be interesting to try something new. If it gets a thumbs up from my family I'll share the recipes next week!

What changes have you recently made?

The Rose

There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. ~Anaïs Nin

In the Still of the Night

Night time is really the best time to work. All the ideas are there to be yours because everyone else is asleep. ~Catherine O'Hara

With the exception of when I was very young, I have always been a night owl. The hustle and bustle of the day has ceased and the house settles down to sweet slumber, leaving me alone with my thoughts. My best ideas and plans come alive in the still of the night. At last there is solitude!

Inside myself is a place where I live all alone, and that's where I renew my springs that never dry up. ~Pearl Buck

I use the quiet of night to read, journal, and dream. When all is still, that is when I catch glimpses of the life I envision. Recently the visions have changed in part for I have changed ever so subtly. Just as time marches on and the four seasons come and go, such is life. Change is inevitable.

All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another. ~Anatole France

I believe the melancholy and discontent I have felt of late is a necessary part of my self-discovery and will be followed by growth and change.

Never mind searching for who you are. Search for the person you aspire to be. ~Robert Brault

Ebb and Flow

~Magickal Graphics~

I appreciate all of your thoughtful comments and advice yesterday! It's nice to know one is not alone. I tried talking about it with Alfred, but he just doesn't get it. It made me realize that this journey is my own and the answers are inside of me.

The sea ebbs and flows as does life. When you are in the flow, everything is wonderful, smooth, and all feels right with the world. Then there are times of ebb when one needs to pull back seeking quiet and solitude in order to hear the whispers of the heart. This is where I am at the moment. Life has become stagnant and routine and I need to fill my well and romance my creative urges.

Julia Cameron reminds us:
Transformation occurs through action.

I have been reading Joan Anderson's books - A Year by the Sea, An Unfinished Marriage, and An Unfinished Journey. I now realize that the journey is never finished. Just as the beach landscape changes with the tides, so does life. It is our choice to whether we change and flourish along with it or languish on the shore. It is not a crime to feel fear, but to allow the fear to hold us back from living is a crying shame.

Let us hold hands and dip our toes in the great sea of life, shall we?

The Dark Side

I have been feeling very restless and uninspired. I don't know what it is...why I feel this way or how to change it. I really don't know what to do anymore. I am tired of the struggle to find my authentic self. Maybe she is lost forever. Or ran away from it all and joined a gypsy caravan.

Sometimes I dream of fully unleashing my inner Wild Woman and doing something, anything, that would be considered out of character for me. Go on a road trip, para-sailing, dancing, sing karaoke, or skinny-dipping in the moonlight. Something that makes me feel alive!

I long to be free-spirited. Free from society's expectation and approval. Free from fear...of lack, failure, and worthiness. Free from debt, perfectionism, and unrealistic expectations.

Being the *good* girl and always playing it safe, is not all it's cracked up to be....

Gratitude List ~ Week 27

~ Sunshiny days and blue skies

~ Surfing the internet from the comfort of my bed using Alfred's laptop at night.

~ Afternoon naps

~ Sincere compliments that brighten my day

~ Comfortable shoes

Poetry and Movies

Sarah kindly sent me her book of poetry, Otherwise. Her poems are beautiful, moving, sometimes haunting, and full of emotion. My favorite poem was Lures for its surprising twist at the end. Sarah is a wonderful writer who puts her heart and soul into her work. It is evidenced on both her blog and in her poetry.

***

Alfred and I watched a good movie this morning called Bonneville...a chic flick, but good nevertheless. The review says:

Jessica Lange, Joan Allen and Kathy Bates hit the road in BONNEVILLE, a story about three friends who come of age for a second time on a trip across the great American West. Faced with the decision of a lifetime, Arvilla Holden (Lange) loads up her 1966 Bonneville convertible and, with her friends (Allen, Bates) in tow, sets out from Pocatello, Idaho en route to Santa Barbara. As they detour to locales like Bryce Canyon and Las Vegas, it doesnt take long for the women to realize Arvilla has something unexpected in store. But what none of them realize is that what began as a simple trip will become a chance to rediscover themselves, their friendship, the importance of promises and of letting go. Also starring Tom Skerritt and Christine Baranski, BONNEVILLE unites three of the most acclaimed actresses of our time in a story that celebrates fun, adventure and living life to the fullest.

Wishing you a happy Saturday!

On Being Home

On being home is the last of Rhonda's kitchen table talks.

This has been a week of reflection for me. My home is a place of comfort and security. Home is where I am free to unleash my creativity and use my ideas and the works of my hands to create the home life I envision.

It doesn't take a lot of money to live a fulfilling life, only a willingness to work and do the things that have meaning for you. When you give your time and attention to the things that matter most, peace and joy are sure to follow.

For me, that means:

~ Making my home a cozy, restful retreat for my family and visitors

~ Nourishing meals and goodies made from scratch that feed not only the body but the spirit as well

~ Being mindful of our finances: reducing expenses and saving as we strive to become debt-free

~ Creative pursuits, good books, writing, music, and conversations

~ Looking upon the world with eyes of wonder as I connect with nature and am a blessing to others

~ Maintaining a love of learning; acquiring new skills that will enable us to become more self-sufficient

~ Always practicing an attitude of gratitude and living life with enthusiasm

~ Fully living Simple Abundance

Home Production

Rhonda discussed the possibilities of home production yesterday on her blog.

So far, I have learned to make my own cleaners, bake bread, sew curtains, put in a garden by hand, cook and bake many things from scratch, cross-stitch/embroidery, make Play-doh and bubble mixture for the kids, tape, mud, and sand walls to get ready to paint, decorate my mailbox with stenciled roses and paint the house number free-hand, weed-eat, plant various flowers and plants, install skirting around our home, read my electric meter, sew on a button, and probably much more that I am forgetting!

Of course, there is always more to learn in life and in homemaking. And I certainly have so much more to learn, but that is what makes life interesting! Not only that, but as I acquire new skills my confidence grows and I feel more secure knowing that I can provide things for my family out of the works of my hands. The more skills I learn, the more money I can save - which is very important as we strive to become free from debt.

Dis-ease and Learning to Listen

Christine wrote a fabulous post about the gifts of pain. It was a timely reminder to me to take better care of myself. I had an appointment yesterday with my rheumatologist and learned I have bursitis in my hips and knees...just one more diagnosis in a long line of dis-eases:

Rheumatoid Arthritis
Psoriasis
Panic Attacks (controlled by medicine)
and now...
Bursitis

What this says to me is that it's time to start taking care of Tracy again. As a wife and mother, I often sweep my needs under the rug in order to make sure the needs of my family are met. But where does that leave me? Run down, in pain, feeling unmotivated and uncreative. Not exactly the kind of life I envision for myself.

Today, I resolve to listen to my body and all that it has to teach me.

The best six doctors anywhere
And no one can deny it
Are sunshine, water, rest, and air
Exercise and diet.
These six will gladly you attend
If only you are willing
Your mind they'll ease
Your will they'll mend
And charge you not a shilling.
~Nursery rhyme quoted by Wayne Fields, What the River Knows, 1990

Electricity, Water, and Green Cleaning

Following along with Rhonda's round table discussion, we come to electricity and water, as well as green cleaning.

Now I touched on electricity and water earlier in the week, acknowledging that these areas can be improved upon. The greatest electricity drainer is due to the kids forever leaving lights, radios, and the computer on. No matter how often I remind them to turn things off (and it's often!), these things still get left on. Sometimes I feel as if all my work is in vain...

As for Green Cleaning, I make most my own cleaners with the exception of laundry soap and I plan to try that soon! I still do like to use Pine-Sol for mopping floors and disinfecting bathrooms...I love the scent!

Other things I would like to try:

~ Making dish-washing soap

~ Making bath soap

~ Create a homemaking routine and stick to it
(I tend to rebel at the mere thought of routines but believe they can be beneficial)

Heart Whispers

As I approach my thirty-fifth birthday I find myself comtemplating my life thus far. I have always been reserved and worried about what others would think if I did this or that. Now I find myself feeling constricted and boxed in. I've allowed myself to become stuck in a rut and I am longing to break free from all that is holding me back.

How I will accomplish this, I do not know. I wish I had a guide-book that could tell me exactly what I must do, but, alas, there is no such thing. So I am left to my own devices, blindly forging a new path, a new life. A life of rediscovery and unearthing my authencity. I think the only thing that will help is solitude. I need to pull away from everything for a time in order to hear the whispers of my heart.

Let the journey begin...

Disposables

Yesterday Rhonda discussed disposables as she continues with her simple home audit. This is an area I can definitely improve on.

We currently use paper towels, paper plates, zip-loc freezer bags, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, coffee filters, toilet paper, tissues, and sanitary napkins.

Things I am currently doing:

~ Slowly transitioning from sanitary napkins to handmade ones. It takes some getting used to, but the handmade ones are much more comfortable.

*This post caused my shift in thinking about disposable napkins.

** I purchased a sampler set of cloth napkins from Amy's Rag Bag.

~ Use old rags for cleaning.

~ I don't use much aluminum foil or plastic wrap (the plastic wrap can be eliminated because I hate it), so I will continue to use foil.

~ Toilet paper & tissues are a must, so they will remain.

Areas I need to improve:

~ Put my canvas bags in the car so I don't forget them while shopping.

~ Stop buying paper plates & just wash the extra dishes.

~ I mainly use paper towels to drain cooked hamburger, so I need to figure out another way to do so without the use of paper towels.

~ Zip-loc bags are used to repackage meats in smaller portions, but I could buy wax paper & butcher's paper to wrap meat instead which would reduce the use of plastic.

~ Try to find a reusable coffee filter to fit my coffee pot.

~ Buy or make cloth napkins and dishcloths/towels.

Snapshots

Streaked hair and self-portraits...

Kitty

Clover & Zoe

Gracie

Slip 'n Slide...

= Summer fun!

Homemade Bubbles

Check out this site for lots of different recipes!

Food

Yesterday food was the topic of Rhonda's round table discussions.

Food - Outside

I get overwhelmed with food - meal planning and preparation, shopping for food...you name it. Now I have come a long way over the years, but I still have so much to learn. With food being such an important part of our lives {we need it to live}, I do the best I can and am ever-learning in this area.

I have a small garden that started out with 3 cucumber mounds, 3 bell pepper plants, and 6 tomato plants. The bell peppers died and only 1 cucumber plant and 3 tomato plants survived {the peppers and tomatoes were heirloom}. I believe we have very poor soil. I added cow manure and triple X to the soil, but this is definitely an area I need to read up on.

Changes I would like to make:

1. Become more knowledgeable about gardening - particularly fertilization
2. Build a compost bin
3. Have chickens for fresh eggs
4. Plant a few fruit trees - peaches, satsumas, plums?
5. Install water tanks to collect rain water (sometime in the future as finances allow, but a girl can dream, right?)
6. Gradually increase my garden each year
7. Learn to can and preserve food

Food - Inside

I have a fridge, a small chest freezer, a smallish pantry, and a couple of shelves in the cabinets to store my stockpile. The chest freezer is getting rather low, so I need to work on refilling it with meats on sale and/or meats purchased through Angel Food Ministries.

Changes I want to make:

1. Improve in menu planning
2. Pack Alfred really good lunches to take to work
3. Reorganize my pantry and cabinets
4. Find a way to keep track of my freezer contents
5. Continue to increase my home-cooking skills
6. Utilize leftovers better to eliminate waste
7. Perhaps try making my own dog/cat food if determined to be cheaper than store-bought.

These are lists of things I can begin to work on now {except for the water tanks}, but not at all a complete list. As I grow comfortable with these, I can then add other tasks.

Gratitude List ~ Week 26

{source}

This a day early, but I'm feeling patriotic and sentimental. Thinking about the meaning of Independence Day makes me particularly grateful.

I'm thankful...

~ that I live in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

~ for having the freedom to worship as I please.

~ for being able to raise & educate my children as I see fit.

~ to have the choice to stay home to care for my family and home.

~ to have the freedom to live the life I dream of.

What are you thankful for today?

What's Cookin' in My Kitchen

The other day I made a dozen hamburger buns from scratch. They are very good, but also very filling! I think they would have turned golden brown on top if I'd brushed them with a bit of butter.

*P.S. They taste like homemade bread. :)

Fresh squeezed limes {by hand as I have no juicer} to make limeade concentrate.

Limeade Concentrate
Mix 1.5 cups sugar to 1.5 cups of water in a medium saucepan. Heat until sugar is dissolved, then add 1 cup of lime juice.

Limeade {makes 3 cups}
Mix 1 cup of limeade concentrate to 2 cups of water.

Kenzie helped with the limeade and is holding the finished product. :)

Homemade refrigerator pickles using cucumbers from the garden.

Here is a super easy dessert I made last week. Crumble an angel food cake.

Mix up a package of instant chocolate Jell-O pudding...

Mix well...

Pour pudding over angel food cake and refrigerate.

Dish it up and add a dab of Cool Whip and enjoy!

In addition to making the pickles and limeade yesterday, I browned hamburger for burritos, cooked seasoned hamburger patties to be used later on in the week and also made a meatloaf. It felt really good to get a jump-start on dinners for the week.

What have you been cooking up lately?