Blondee's Diary

Schnitzel and Lions

2012-02-29T08:37:00.002-05:00

The kids really enjoyed our unit on our heritage and trying new foods from our different backgrounds. We have made it weekly menu change. Each week, something new that would be a traditional food is added in. We made schnitzel and it was fantastic. To make this at home, you will need one pork tenderloin cut into 8 medallions. Pound each to 1/4 inch thickness. One cup a.p. flour, one teaspoon of seasoned salt, two eggs, 1/4 cup milk and 1 1/2 cups Italian seasoned breadcrumbs. For sauce you will need one cup of each chicken broth and sour cream, as well as 2 tsp of flour and one Tbsp of dill weed.

In a shallow dish, beat eggs and milk and set aside. In a second dish combine flour and seasoned salt. Third dish is bread crumbs.

Dredge each piece of meat in the flour.

Then dip in egg/milk.

Lastly coat in bread crumbs.

Fry in 4 Tbsp of canola oil over medium high heat until golden brown on each side. Keep warm.

Turn up heat to high and add 1/2 of broth to deglaze pan. In small dish whisk 2 tsp of flour and remaining broth until smooth. Pour into pan and bring to a boil. Cook and stir for two minutes to thicken.

Reduce heat and add one cup of sour cream and dill. Stir until smooth and heated through. Do not boil.

Sauce will be thick and creamy.

Pour sauce over meat and serve. I made it with mashed potatoes and fried dough. Delicious and easy! This will be rotated in again, SOON! :)

March is almost here and doesn't it come with a snow storm warning? Spring is just around the corner! Happy Leap Day!

Blondee

Fat and Fun

2012-02-28T21:01:00.000-05:00

This is suet, a hunk of fat from the side of beef we purchased. We melted the fat down on the lowest setting on our simmer burner. Fat scorches easily, it will also burn onto the bottom of the pan- so low, low, temp. You also need to be very careful when working with it as it is very flammable and can cause terrible burns. Never put a lid on a pan of rendering suet. Once rendered down, the suet will dry in a solid form. We are making suet feeders for birds.

Once the suet is liquified, strain it through cheesecloth or a coffee filter. You want it to be clear, no meat particles of clumps. Those will make your suet putrify and rot.

Once strained and placed back in the pot, we added chunky peanut butter and stirred over low heat to melt the peanut butter.

Wheat flour and oats are added in as well to solidify into a thick 'dough' like texture.

We packed the mixture into plastic containers and placed them in the freezer for 30 minutes. They firm up quickly.

They are now solid, not sticky or gummy at all. Very much like the texture of a candle. I save mesh onion bags a couple of weeks before making the feeders and then I can just pop the solid feeder in the mesh bag and hang them. You can add different ingredients to the suet to attract different birds as well.

Blondee

A Field Trip and a Slaughter House GRAPHIC!

2012-02-27T08:23:00.000-05:00

This post is not for those who wish to not know how meat is processed from the farm to the table. It contains pictures that may be displeasing to some. If this is you, then do not read any further. I will see you another time. :) If you are offended by the idea of eating meat, then this is not a post for you. Our family does eat meat, it is scripturally acceptable and this is our way of educating ourselves on our foods, as well as saving money.

This is a 'Mom and Pop' run slaughter house. One of which has personal significance for me. My grandfather Blanchard volunteered his time here for several years, a trade he had picked up as a young man. Life led Grandpa to become a sheriff, but after retirement he went back to butchering, until his health declined, he knew he was dying. It was then that he brought his butchering knives here to his friend, left them in his good care, and wished his friend well. Grandpa died about 6 weeks later. The natural wood counter in the back is where Grandpa spent his time 5 mornings each week.

Our tour began with the set up. The owner spoke of government regulations, codes and how he went about building his slaughter house himself, while working full time and raising a young family.

He then led us outside to where an outbuilding holds the cattle and pigs that are brought in for slaughter. He showed us how he has them separated by pens, so he can single out certain animals on certain days. He explained his method of using a .22 and at times a 7mm to put the animals down. From there they are winched upon the back of a tilt truck, where they are then driven into the building. Overhead hoists anchor the animals upside down where they are then bled out over a large drain. He said time is of the essence, usually having two to three minutes time between the bullet and hanging in the building. (I will spare you the photos.)

After skinning and gutting, an industrial meat saw that weighs over 100 pounds and is suspended on a pulley system is used to quarter the animals into workable pieces. A large rack of meat hooks hang nearby ready to take large sections of fresh meat and roll into the large coolers where they hang.

There were 3 cows and a 900 pound steer in the cooler while we visited. The steer had been slaughtered that morning and was being broken down while we were there, but I am sparing you those images as well.

We picked up our meat. We purchased grass fed beef, a half a cow. It dressed out at just over 600 pounds, our share being 5 large boxes of meat and two bags each of suet and bones cut down for the dogs as well as a box of organs. The heart, the liver and the tongue came home with us as well. I emptied my freezer completely before we left and when we came home the meat filled it entirely. We paid $2.25 per pound for the meat which is considerable savings when you consider what you pay in a store. The top shelf is all hamburger meat, the second shelf a variety of roasts, third shelf is all steaks and prime rib, the bottom area is the suet, the heart, the bones, and the door space is all liver and one bag of suet.

The boy and the girly were willing participants in our field trip. The girly did not enjoy seeing the meat hang when it was still recognizable as being a cow shape...but she did ask a lot of good questions and came away from it surprised with how much work goes into processing meat. She was also intrigued by the stories the gentleman told of how often he works side by side vetranarian's when trying to deliver large calves, or emergent c-sections. The boy, being the boy, thought the entire thing was super cool. He's such a boy. :)

Blondee

♥ Lauren's Law ♥ and Friends

2012-02-25T07:01:00.001-05:00

(Lauren Belius on the left, and her twin sister Erica)

This week I have been blessed beyond words by the compassion and kindness my fellow bloggers and friends have shown by sharing my passion for Lauren's Law. I have been featuring fellow bloggers as a thank you all week for their reposting of my blog post on Lauren and her tragic death, as well as the unfair and ridiculous not guilty verdict in her case. All week the blog was reposted, and at last count I am thrilled to say- reached 37 states that I have been made aware of. Lauren's Mom has been on the local news and radio stations to help gain support in Lauren's Law. We are over 7,000 names in just 5 short days!

(This is the dress Lauren was buried in. A beautiful princess dress that her aunt and uncle found for her funeral. Sadly, she had to be covered with a shawl to hide the 20+ stab wounds inflicted upon her tiny body.)

Please continue to forward the petition. I cannot begin to tell you how awful it was to go to her calling hours and see that gorgeous baby in a casket, her devastated family all so heartbroken, and overwhelmed. Grief is hard, but it's tragic when it's a child you are grieving. And now, they will live in fear that David Trebilcock can be a free man with NO criminal record in as little as 12 months. I don't ever want to see a little girl in a princess dress again unless she is able to run and play and twirl in it. Lauren could not.

I have two more friends that I would like to thank for reposting Lauren's story, please take a few minutes and say hello. :)

This is my cousin, Laura's blog.- She is a hard working gal who is constantly going and thisclose to being done with her education. I have no idea how she does it, because all the while she has also been taking excellent care of my beautiful Aunt Em who has been battling cancer and it's disfiguring effects for several years now.

Ahermitt at Notes From A Homeschooled Mom was also kind enough to repost. She is a seasoned homeschooler who is very well spoken (Love her vlogs!) and really has excellent points on educating children as well as the public school system.

Thank you all so much for making something so personal to me, personal to you as well. Our children are our future and if we all stand up together to protect them, the laws will change.

Thank you Lauren Belius, for making these hearts knit together out of love for you!

Blondee

Frugal Disney Mom and Friends

2012-02-24T07:44:00.000-05:00

Another friend I want you all to meet, who is an artist, a wife, a mother to 3 boys. A homeschooler, a proud Christian, creative, quick to laugh, who wears her heart on her sleeve. I will always remember tearing up just hearing her voice break up as she told me her son was being moved and deployed. Her fear and uncertainty was palpable, and to know she hurt so horribly, made my heart hurt for her.

Frugal Disney Mom is *almost* a relative, too. I regard her as a sister, but it's hilarious that after we got to be friends, she informed me that we were almost family, her brother is married to my cousin! I had no idea since it's a cousin I didn't know...but still, how small the world can be!

She somehow manages to go to Disney every year with her two younger sons, and she does it for a steal! She compares rates, does rebates, coupons, and gets the very best deals...and not just on travel. She shares deals on Amazon, Groupon and more.

She even helps plan other friends and families Disney trips and gives them all sorts of fun tips and pointers to make sure that their trip is just as special as her own family's trip.

Quick to offer time, prayer, friendship, or a shoulder to cry on, she is one in a million. Please head over to Frugal Disney Mom and say hello. She could even use a new follower or two! :)

Thank you Becky for sharing Lauren's story! I am thrilled to share with everyone that Lauren's Law petition has over 5200 signatures in just 4 days!! Please sign it if you haven't already. We need to protect our children, our future...if Lauren were my child, I would want the whole world to back me in getting this law passed. This is why I am pushing this so hard. Every single name counts. Thank you!

Blondee

Guard Wife and Friends

2012-02-23T08:42:00.001-05:00

Today I want you to meet someone who is family in an odd sort of way. She is the eldest daughter of two people who are very dear to Mr. Blondee and myself. She is intelligent, well spoken, energetic, passionate, a mom to 4 incredible kids, and the very lucky grandma to one of the most gorgeous little boys the world will ever see. She is the wife of a reservist who has been deployed a few times in the last couple of years and during those times she shares the anguish, the solitude, the joys and the challenges of being a single mom, welcoming her husband back, and then gearing up to let him go once again. She is a Momma Bear when needed, steely and fierce, but she is also the wife who shoulders everything when her husband is off in the desert, making our world a better place- who needs comfort and his closeness back home. I know many of you have read my stories about the late Mr. B, and his wife who moved off of our street last year, Mrs. B. Please go and visit their daughter who shares her family, her husband and her heart, over at Guard Wife. Thank you Royale, for sharing your parents as well when Mr. Blondee needed to claim them a little bit as his own. Thank you for your updates on the amazing baby Gabe. Keep them coming! And thank you so much for making sure that Lauren's story keeps being shared. .
Please sign the petition and help us make Lauren's Law happen. You can sign and have your signature not be visible as well. :)

Blondee

Walking on Sunshine and Friends

2012-02-22T07:28:00.000-05:00

Today I would like to introduce my friend Lois, over at Walking on Sunshine. A transplanted New Yorker, a divine cook and accomplished baker, wife to the Colonel and mother of her girl, 'Livie' and son, Michael. Lois' blog is full of delicious and easy meals, scrumptious side dishes and the very famous mac and cheese that has become a staple in our household since she shared it months ago.

Lois is a proud Christian sister, devoted to Him and sharing scriptures from her prized Bible left to her from her late father who was a pastor. Her insight and love is thought provoking and contagious. I am delighted to be able to call her a friend, even though we have never met in person- she is the kind of gal you could know is coming to town and just know you would get along. Please head over, tell her I sent you. She also was one of my bloggy friends kind enough to repost my blog on Lauren, spreading the word of how tragically short her life was, and the injustice her family has been left to deal with. With her help, and the help of the other's bloggy friends who reposted, Lauren's Law was the lead story on our local news last night!

Thank you, Lois!

Blondee

Homeschool and Etc. and Friends

2012-02-21T09:00:00.001-05:00

Have you ever gotten to know someone incredibly well through your blog? I have. I have been blessed to meet many lovely people, but one who stands out and has become like a sister is Happy Elf Mom. A Momma of 5 amazing boys, and one cutesy pie princess, she is a homeschooler, a wife, an advocate and fighter for her children of which several are on the Autism spectrum. Her take on life is real and not sugar coated. She has dealt with abuse of her children at the hands of her school district and how she manages just astounds me. Her blog is like a cup of coffee at a friends house. Sometimes you sit down and talk shorties and schooling, sometimes it's Polish Pottery and repainting rooms, other times her dry wit is just what you need when it comes to commentary on what's going on in the world. Please pay her a visit today and let her know how you came to find her. Give her some love and look at her sidebar and see those 6 gorgeous kids.

Happy Elf Mom is a dynamic woman and I cannot thank her enough for sharing Lauren's tragic story with her readers.

Blondee

Gardening and Friends

2012-02-20T20:18:00.002-05:00

Have you ever met anyone in real life, AFTER becoming friends online? I have. I would love for you to visit Laurelin's Garden and give her some love. We met a few years back when she sent a message on our local homeschool e-loop asking about the area as she and her family were relocating.

We began to correspond and wrote back and forth for several months before they moved here. Once her family was here it was as if they had always been here. The children and I took dinner over to them as a welcome home gift, and it was nice to finally have real people to attach to the names and notes we has shared for so long.

An avid gardener, she is full of insight and knowledge when it comes to flowers and how to make them better. I honestly think she just may know every scientific name for every flower known to man. Truly!

She is a mother of two, a girl close to the girly's age and a son just a bit younger than the boy. She has learned to navigate the world of Asperger's with her son and has been a beacon at times for me in my own journey with the girly.

On top of everything else, she is an artist as well! I have personally given some of her jewelry as gifts and it's just incredible. I thank my friend for passing along my post on Lauren- the little girl murdered, and her killer who will not be held accountable for his actions.

Thank you 'L'!

Blondee

Child Killer and Enough

2012-02-19T09:22:00.002-05:00

There is no relationship that lasts longer in this world than the relationship of siblings. God's gift of best friends to us in life. Meet Lauren Belius and her twin sister Erica. Beautiful baby girls, aren't they?

The girls were inseparable, Lauren being the brave 'older' sister, and Erica being the shy little sister.

Older brother Nolan didn't just have to share the spotlight with one cute little sister, but two! These three joined our Taekwondo studio last spring. Busy little kids that we all got a kick out of watching as they learned their counters, kicks and kata's.

Lauren and Erica- blessings beyond words, beautiful memories made of first birthdays, milestones, holiday mornings and their sweet personalities.

Until one horrific morning in July of 2011.

David Trebilcock stabbed Lauren to death in her own bed as her twin sat inches from her in the very same bed, horrified and screaming for help. David had been plotting her murder, going as far as to lock the family dog in the garage and barricade the bedroom door with a dresser before approaching these amazing girls to fulfill his plan of killing a child.

By God's grace, Lauren and Erica's mom was able to break into the room and attacked David, incapacitating him so she could get her girls out of his evil clutches. Lauren succumbed to her injuries, tragically the little girl with the big grin left her family that day and went to Heaven where she would feel no pain, have no fear, and never be harmed again.

Now a little sister who was shy and dependent on her older, brave sister would be left to navigate the world alone. Her twin, her other half, torn from her right in front of her, torn from us all.

David Trebilcock admitted to murdering Lauren Belius. He did not take the stand in his own defense, instead pleaded not guilty by defense of insanity. He then requested a bench trial instead of a jury of his peers and last week was found NOT GUILTY of killing Lauren.

Our community has been devastated by the murder of this sweet girl, a family broken forever, and a mom has been left to look over her shoulder the rest of her life for a man who made statements that make us all concerned that her other children may be in grave danger when he is released. This man had the foresight to lock a family dog away from the girls it would have fought to protect. He shoved a dresser in front of a door that would have allowed these girls to escape. This man is not an insane man, he's a cold, calculating murderer who just worked our system and has been freed of all charges by Judge Dwyer of Oneida County.

Our laws need to be changed!

There should be NO plea of insanity if you murder a child, and there certainly should be no bench trial demanded by the murderer!

David Trebilcock can be out in the world amongst you and me in 12 months!! A man who admitted he had intercourse with a 12 year old child. A man who admitted to having drug problems in the past. A man who hid his past from others and left other states when he knew he was in trouble. The very same man who murdered Lauren in cold blood.

Allison, Lauren's Mom is asking for help in spreading the word of this injustice. PLEASE, I am asking all of my readers to help me spread the word! Repost this on your own blog. Make every community aware of what our laws really do. Help us gain national exposure to get the ball rolling and make it so David Trebilcock and other child killers can not get away with this!

Please do not just link to this blog...too many readers ignore links. Please cut and paste! Right click to copy the photos.

I thank you for your help.

Lauren's Mommy thanks you for your help!

Photos posted of Lauren, Nolan and Erica Belius are with written permission of their Mom. Photos of sadistic liar, admitted child raping, and confessed child killer David Trebilcock are copied from the Internet.

For my bloggy friends~ If you repost, please leave a comment for me so that I know you did so and I will plug your blog with one of your own original posts later this week. Thank you!

Blondee

Relief and Peace

2012-02-17T22:39:00.000-05:00

Are you ever just ready for a Valium sandwich? I hate to say it, but this week felt that way for me. The week before winter break, still juggling doctor appointments with Mr. Blondee, trying to keep things going in ten different directions with the children, housework, and then losing one of our dogs so unexpectedly and dealing with the aftermath of that. Side note- the girly went the entire day without crying for Sasquatch today.

I am glad the week is over.

I hope your weekend is fabulous and that mine is, too!!

Blondee

Saving Money and Bills

2012-02-15T20:03:00.003-05:00

We cut the cord on Monday. We had our local cable company disconnect the money sucking line from our house. After 14 years of being tied to Time Warner Cable and their ever raising rates, channel black outs, weak signals and down lines, we are done having them be our cable provider. We were paying over 120$ a month on cable and Internet. We are still having them as our Internet provider, but we bought a Roku box for our television watching.

It took about 5 minutes to unpack the system and connect it to the t.v., then connect our online account to the television. No more bills, unless we choose to have one. We get free streaming through Crackle, Pandora, and other free channels. Thousands of movies, documentaries, music channels, cartoons, Disney channels, classic movie channels, all sorts of options. There are channels that you can pay for. Netflix being one of them. Most of the channels you can purchase are 4.95 a month, Netflix goes to 7.95 a month. No more outrageous cable bills. Now the show starts when we want it to, same with the movies. No more missing the beginning, or only having so many hours to view it.

Blondee

Loss and Tragedy

2012-02-14T20:01:00.000-05:00

This morning was like any other, turning on a pot of coffee and taking the dogs out. Three hours later when I went to take them out again I found the girly's dog, Sasquatch laying still. She didn't rouse when I spoke to her so I went over and rubbed her tummy. It was hard and cold. Our big girl with the brown eyes had died. Just 5 years old, we have no idea what could have caused this. Her breed not prone to any serious health problems, we never let her outside alone or without a leash, so we know poison/toxins was not an issue. The girly was devastated and couldn't bear to be with us as we buried her. Instead, she gave me a photo of the two of them together and a handful of Sassy's favorite treats and asked me to tuck them inside her blanket we were burying her in.

The girly told Sassy that there was a little girl named Lauren Belius who had to go to heaven and leave her dog behind this past July 19th. She told Sassy to find the little girl and that the little girl would play with her. Then the girly asked me to write to Lauren's Mommy, and make sure it was okay that the girly was telling Sassy to stay with Lauren until Sydney can see her again, so I did.

Then later in the day we got the devastating news that Judge Dwyer has declared Lauren's killer innocent of her murder due to his insanity plea. Talk about a miscarriage of justice! Dishonorable Judge Dwyer, I have always believed there is a special part of hell reserved for anyone who could kill a child, and I pray there is also a spot for those who make it possible for those killers to be released back into society in as soon as 12 months. As the father of twins himself, what a despicable ruling.

Valentine's Day this year was full of love for us. Love for each other, for our great big pup that we were suddenly without, for Lauren, for her family and loved ones, and for the hope that David Trebilcock will pay for his crimes. Justice doesn't always come in the form of a sentence in a courtroom.

Blondee

Cherry and Dessert

2012-02-13T20:38:00.001-05:00

Quick and easy! Two of my favorite things! For this dessert, start by sprinkling 2 tablespoons of crushed cinnamon graham crackers in each of 4 sundae glasses.

In a small bowl cream together 1 1/2 bricks of cream cheese, one can of sweetened condensed milk and 1 Tbsp. lemon juice. Divide among glasses.

Top with your favorite pie filling. I used cherry for Valentine's Day, but it's delicious with peach, blueberry, blackberry...be creative!

Hope that your Monday was fantastic and that you have a Valentine's Day filled with love and appreciation.

Blondee

Cowboy BBQ and Pizza

2012-02-12T18:33:00.001-05:00

This is a delicious twist on pizza! Start with a package of chicken thighs. Place in a shallow baking pan and season with salt, pepper, and a generous shaking of Creole seasoning. Bake at 400 for 40 minutes.

After 40 minutes, add one teaspoon of Dinosaur BBQ sauce to each thigh. Back in the oven for another 15 minutes.

Cool and remove meat from bones. Discard skin and bones. Shred meat and set aside.

Line two baking sheets or pizza trays with pizza dough. Spread each crust with Dinosaur BBQ sauce, divide the chicken between the two pizzas, add one thinly sliced red onion and one package of pre-cooked bacon chopped.

Sprinkle each pizza with 2 cups of finely shredded cheddar cheese.

Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until crust is golden on bottom and edges.

We had this during the Superbowl last weekend. Huge hit!

Blondee

Ice and Cheese

2012-02-11T20:37:00.001-05:00

An afternoon of ice skating. Mr. Blondee had NEVER been ice skating in his life! Can you believe it?

The kids were excited to get back on the ice after their first attempt last week.

And they were astonished that after having not skated in 25 years, Mom did pretty good! Didn't fall once!

Mr. Blondee was not up for being adventurous. He held the wall and walked the rim of the arena 7 times.

This was when he did get excited and let go of the wall. We were leaving. :)

Tonight for dinner we had burgers and potato wedges. I made Lois' famous cheese sauce to go on them and WOW were they good! Definitely doing that again. Follow the link and visit her page for oodles of yummy ideas.

Happy Saturday!

Blondee

Science and the Girl

2012-02-10T21:14:00.000-05:00

Th girly's newest passion is making her own little catalogs of information. Her muse? Trees, of course. This is a fun example of unschooling. We go for walks daily, we use everything around us as a conversation and learning opportunity. The girly asked for test tubes and took her composition notebook and wrote down what she wanted samples of. Specific trees, the bark, the grounds from within the tree, sap, and seeds. For two days she made it her mission to collect bark, shavings and sap from the trees on her list. Writing down the colors of the samples, the consistency, date of collection and then has noted changes since. The biggest change has been with her Osage orange sample. It looked like orange-y shavings to begin with, but as the days have passed, they have darkened, while the maple samples have stayed light.

All of these walks and sample taking and note making has kept the girly busy....and left her kitty and puppy so lonesome, they are hanging out together and even enjoying a little down time. :)

Enjoy the weekend!

Blondee

Valentine's and Savings!

2012-02-08T20:56:00.000-05:00

Cold temps the last two days have encased the branches dipping near the creek in ice.

We went for a walk in the morning when the frost was still on the ground, and later when the day warmed to just above freezing, went for another.

Sap drips furiously from a maple that was cut back late in the fall. A sign of the season.

With Valentine's Day almost here, I thought I would share my 'stock'. I've been putting little things aside for the last couple of months. Last year we did our usual and made each other's Valentine's cards, but the kids liked the 'shopping' out of a bag for each other. So, we are doing that again. I've spent maybe 15 dollars on everything in this bag. Stocking up on things after Christmas when stocking stuffers were clearanced. I don't like to buy the kids a lot of candy or junk....so I have bought things they like, they use, and they need. We will make our Valentine's for each other tomorrow and each family member will decorate their own Valentine's box. Then we will take turns selecting items to place in the other family member's boxes. It's fun for the them to get a box full of things, and it's fun for ME to save money and know they aren't getting a lot of candy that isn't good for them!

Blondee

Stew and Easy

2012-02-06T15:12:00.001-05:00

I love stews. Thick, hearty, body warming stews. This is one of my family's favorites and I thought I would pass it along. Start with two pounds of chuck roast cut into one inch cubes. I don't buy stew meat, I always buy the roast and cut it down myself. Less connective tissue on the meat than what you generally get in a package of stew meat. Brown the meat in 2 tablespoons of oil over medium high heat in a dutch oven.

Thinly slice one large onion and halve one pound of white button mushrooms. Add to the browned meat along with one minced garlic clove.

Cook and stir until onions are tender.

Add 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of pepper and 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning.

Add two 14.5 oz cans of beef broth and one bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 90 minutes.

In a small bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup of flour and 1/2 cup of water until smooth. Stir into stew.

Bring to a boil again, cook and stir for two minutes to thicken. Reduce heat to medium low. Add in one bag of frozen peas.

In a small bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cups of biscuit/baking mix, 1 tsp of onion powder, and 1/2 cup milk. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto stew mixture.Cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes.

Enjoy! I do not always use peas in this, I have used peas with carrots, corn, as well as mixed vegetables and have had delicious results every time.

Enjoy your Monday!

Blondee

Dinner and Mating

2012-02-05T20:46:00.000-05:00

The quiet of the woods all to myself.

Stolen moments without the boy, the girl, or Mr. Blondee.

The peacefulness interrupted only by a stray squirrel skittering along the branches of the bare trees.

The old cedars along bank have been giving way and falling over, all being held up by one sturdy maple that they now appear to worship.

A black streak in the floor of the woods where a natural spring runs year round.

The only other sign of life I saw today. At first, it seemed to be feathers from a distance.

A closer look revealed fur.

The gray shocks with golden tips. Gray wolves have been here.

It's mating season for the wolves and the coyotes. They inhabit the bank behind our house, their small dens keeping them warm.

Paw prints along the creek and in the deep mud show the broad pads of their feet and long nails.

Last night during dinner, we heard the yelping and growls of the coyotes in the field.

We went out on the deck with a flash light and the lamp lights of eyes stared back.

Most likely a male has entered the territory which is already claimed, fighting over females to breed with.

Back inside the warm house, the girly was now afraid to take her puppy out alone.

Thank goodness for brave big brothers.

Blondee

Shaving and Ice

2012-02-03T17:41:00.000-05:00

The boy began shaving this week. He's almost 14, and he had been sprouting straggly whiskers for the last few months. Still, not ready to be the parent of a young man who shaves. I miss the little boy who was so excited to start sleeping in his 'big boy' bed and had a Tonka truck comforter set. Now his room has been painted black for two years, he has long outgrown the adorable 'big boy' bed and loves camo and thinks he's all sorts of mature. *sigh*

To switch up things I took the children ice skating today. They have never tried it before and the girly was sure she would be the next great Olympic skater.

Stepping out on the ice was a HUGE reality check for her, as she soon realized she needed a balance guard to get her bearings.

She whizzed across the ice like an old lady with a walker trying to out run the police.

The boys (a friends two boys joined us) held up the wall whilst trying to figure out how to keep their feet underneath them. Too proud to use the 'baby' guards.

Soon enough the girly had her balance and got the feel for turns and the 'baby' block wasn't necessary.

The boy got brave and wobbled and jerked his way across the ice.

They each had their share

of not so graceful moments

and tumbles on the ice.

But more importantly, they had fun. The girly has decided to hold off on the Olympic plans until she gets another hour on the ice under her belt...we are going back next week. :)

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Blondee

A Long Stay and Unknown

2012-02-01T17:53:00.002-05:00

I haven't told them they are in my house....I am afraid if I do, they will join the ranks of the other unlucky house plants I have killed over the years. I can grow just about anything outside, but inside is another story.

The last time I tried to keep a house plant was when Gram died. I was given her momma's 112 year old Christmas Cactus. It was large and lovely and flowered exactly when it should. I talked to it and made sure it had sunshine and not too much water. I even bought it special water when I worried the tap water was killing it. The girly didn't help, dousing it in Windex just to see if it would make it shiny. (It did not.) Finally, not wanting to kill Gram's precious plant, I gave it to my own Mom. It sits happily in her basement, perched near the wood stove, growing contentedly. Mocking me when I visit. (I am sure it does.)

You can imagine my sadness when last year as a thank you my seed company that I order from sent me 6 house plants in a box. I gave away four of them, fearing for their lives. Knowing what their fates would be if that stayed here. The final two went unwanted and I tricked them. I set them outside on the deck and told them they could go home with anyone who would take them. They sat there through October and then I brought them in one evening and put them on the window ledge. I make no eye contact with them. I don't talk to them or encourage them in the least. I only water them when I think they are not likely to notice, usually at night when it's dark out and they seem sleepy.

So far they have not spited my efforts, or lack thereof. Instead they have stayed a vibrant green and seemingly *like* the accommodations.

So, didn't one of my hair clients have to press my luck at Christmas this year and give me a Christmas Cactus cutting as a gift?

I haven't told it where it's living yet, either!

Blondee

The Quick and the Slow

2012-01-31T15:30:00.000-05:00

We followed the coyote tracks down the yard and into the woods this morning.

The gift of three inches of snow the night before last made it an easy path. Friends an hour west of us got 32 inches of snow the same night! That is why our small amount was a gift.

Eventually the coyote veered off the path and into the small field, following a rabbit and it's small steps. The tracks zig zagged back and forth all over an area about 10 yards square. No blood in the area though, so it seems the bunny eluded being a meal for another day.

The girly so far ahead she is hardly visible.

Eagerly searching the area to see where the little rabbit may be hiding. She was persistent and did find a little brown rabbit that dodged in front of her then kept running through the pass where the field and path meet. Like the coyote, I wasn't quite fast enough to catch him with my camera.

This was our field at noon. Already the three inches of snow barely a blanket from the sun and it's 50 degree warmth. Now late in the afternoon the field is back to being bare and brown under the sweet sunshine.

Blondee

Unschooling and an Expo

2012-01-29T21:11:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we took the kids to the annual Sportsman's Expo. Now what some might think would be a boring afternoon, is truly an unschoolers dream!

Also, a dream for a child like the girly. Her combination of Aspie and SPD make this a good day for her. There are animals everywhere...especially dogs. And she adores dogs.

There are mounts and taxidermied critters...

A great way for the kids to see these animals up close and learn more about their habitats, body size, eating habits and what ones are in our locale.

Leatherworking! Our beloved late neighbor, Mr. B. was amazing at most things, including leatherwork. The boy and the girly were fairly young when he passed, but see his works that he gave to us. So for them to see what goes in to crafting beautiful wallets, belts, etc., was a great learning experience.

Art work! The paintings, photos, and decorated skulls were just awe inspiring.

A friend from last year! This gorgeous lab is at the show every year to demonstrate his owner's dog training business. He sits so still, you think he's stuffed. :)

With the owner's permission, the girly happily said hello to him again this year.

Fur toys and babies galore. Amazing little replicas of all sorts of critters.

Gym! A rock climbing wall, archery set ups, demos on ice fishing, and target shooting.

Tour guides from all over!

Live animal shows.

We saw all sorts of beauty.

We met the Wilderness Defenders and their exotic friends.

Many of them from South America. The coolest part of the 'WD' members...

Every single one of them has had a traumatic brain injury and these creatures were all a part of their rehabilitation.

Each member introduced the bird, lizard, or mammal who was key to their recovery...as they were they key to that creatures care and survival. A great afternoon of learning and excitement!

A cute keepsake for the girly to take home.

And a cute one for the boy, too.

Blondee

Donut Muffins and a Recipe

2012-01-28T10:37:00.001-05:00

I love donuts, but hate the mess of making them. Not to mention the frying in oil, the added calories from frying them and how the house smells like cooking oil for the rest of the day. Here is an easy and yummy adaptation of a jelly filled donut. In a muffin! Start with 2 cups of flour in a large mixing bowl. Add 2 tsp. of baking powder, 1/2 tsp. salt,

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon and 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg. (I love the scent of freshly ground nutmeg!)

In a second bowl mix 1 cup sugar, 2/3 cup applesauce, 1 egg lightly beaten and 3/4 cup milk. Blend gently.

Add to dry ingredients.

Stir until just combined.

Place a Tbsp. of batter in the bottom of each lined muffin cup.

Place roughly 1/2 jar of your favorite jam in a zip top bag. Snip the corner.

Pipe a teaspoon of jam (I used blackberry this morning) on top of each muffin cup.

Don't spread the jam. Try to pipe a small pile.

Cover with another Tbsp. of batter so jam is not visible. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Carefully remove hot muffins from tray and brush the tops with melted butter.

Dip each buttered muffin in a mix of 1/3 cup sugar, 1 tsp. cinnamon. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.

Enjoy!

These are incredible. I love to make these with our canned apple pie preserves, strawberry and raspberry.

Happy Saturday!

Blondee