Abundant Blessings Homestead

Tuesday morning

It's a chilly morning here in Tennessee!
Honey's dealing with ice on his windshield each morning now. Time to remember to head out there sooner so the truck can warm up before he's ready to leave for work.

Thanksgiving plans are being made. We're planning a quiet, simple, relaxing holiday this year. We don't take too many days to do really nothing...so that's our plan this year. The girls and I will do as much ahead of time as we can, so no one really has much to do on Thanksgiving. We plan to get some movies and just relax together. Doesn't that sound lovely?!

I'm making a shopping list....for our Keepers' meeting this week, I will be teaching candy making. I have some yummy recipes and am really looking forward to this class! The Contenders will be putting together wood models. I wanted both groups to do something that they could potentially use for Christmas gifts. I think these classes both fit the bill nicely!

I continue on my quest to organize the office. I have a huge pile of stuff to sell. It all needs to be photographed so I can list it online. Much of it is homeschool materials, so that will wait till closer to the end of this school year. But, the sales of this material will probably fund our next year's materials! There's ALOT there!

My birthday just keeps getting better! Yesterday, Rebecca and Thomas' gift to me arrived.....

I have drooled over this book since last year.....checked it out at the library a few times...and now have my very own copy!!!! Rebecca made cream cheese thumbprint cookies from it last night. I LOVE this book!!!!! My children spoil me...and I love them so dearly. God has blessed me abundantly with the very best children ever!!!!

Another book that I am throroughly enjoying is

When I was visiting my wonderful friend, Misty last week, I saw her copy of this book on her table. I asked her to borrow it when she was through reading it. Instead, she sent me my own copy! How blessed I am to have such a thoughtful, generous friend!! Did I mention she also bought my supper at MNO? How blessed can one person be?!

I must scoot now...I need to make my list for town and then wake my children. Think I'll kick up the heat a bit before I call them. It's a bit too cool to climb out of their warm beds at the moment....

Have a most blessed day!!!

Sunday evening

We've had a most pleasant weekend!
Much was accomplished and that always makes for a really great weekend.

Toby, Thomas and Rebecca have been building fence. They feel that they will finish next weekend. What joy!!! It will be wonderful to have it completed. Just in time for the cold weather to set in.   Next job on the list is shelves for our school books in the kitchen. What a happy day that will be when we can store our books away...out of the way...yet close for the next day...and NOT on the counters!!

I've been working on the office. It was filled with stuff. Well, it's still filled with stuff, but I've taken two large trash bags out of here. I need to do a bit more arranging on the shelves...then get to listing items for sale. We have quite alot to sell...and the extra money will be nice to have for Christmas time.

Speaking of Christmas, we are all so excited that my Aunt Nina is coming to spend Christmas with us this year!!! She arrives a few days before the big day and will be here for a few days after it. We haven't had a Christmas with her since we went to NY for Christmas in 1999. That Christmas is fondly remembered as one of our family's most favorite!

Tonight at supper, I said how wonderful it would be to have a vehicle up to a long drive, the day after Thanksgiving off for Honey, and plenty of money to pay for a trip...cause we'd be headed to NY for Thanksgiving. But, alas, we don't have any of those things, so we'll be here. We're planning a very relaxed Thanksgiving this year, just us. We don't take too many days to just relax..and with all the outside work that has been done over the weekends for months now, a day of relaxation sounds perfectly lovely. We'd like to get a few movies to watch, make ahead as much of our meal as we can, and just spend our day with each other...relaxing!

The weather has turned colder....the low tonight is 28*. Brrrr!! We're due to get rain this week...even on my birthday, it's supposed to rain. That's not cool..it shouldn't rain on my birthday! But, we do need the rain, so I guess I won't complain too much.

The coming week is a busy one....tomorrow, all four children get their teeth cleaned. We're taking along school work to do in the waiting room. There's nothing else to do...and we're scheduled for 2-1/2 hours there! Yepper...plenty of time to get at least a subject or two completed. Tuesday is my monthly Moms' night out. We postponed it from last week due to the election. I'm planning to go into town early to do a bit of shopping...window shopping and real shopping. Wednesday is piano day, then we head over to pick up milk. Rebecca and Thomas may stay to ride horses again..not sure of that yet. Thursday is the big day when I enter the last year of my 30's.
Friday, we have a field trip with our homeschool group. Saturday, some friends of ours are having an open house showcasing all the homemade products they make. Sunday...we'll be resting on Sunday!!!

It's nearly 7pm now...guess it's time to get everyone showered, brushed and ready for bed. Honey's been lying in bed listening to his iPod for 30 minutes or so. He, Thomas and Rebecca are all pretty tired this evening from working out in the cold and wind all day. I made a filling meal of chicken alfredo, salad and French bread for supper. The smell of the fresh bread sure put a smile on Honey's face when he walked in the house!

Have a blessed week!!!

48 things about my Honey!!

Thursday evening...

You know, I don't think I'm that old...yet time sure does seem to be flying on hyper speed lately!!

We have done way too much running around this week to suit me. I am such a homebody. It was all necessary stuff...just too much in one week.

Monday, we were home. That day was filled with laundry and school...and normal Monday doings.

Tuesday, Thomas and I had our monthly trip to town, just the two of us. I really enjoy these trips alone with my son. He was quite talkative and we so enjoyed the time together. We both got hair cuts. Then it was off to his orthodontist appmt. I was so thankful to find that it was a quick trip, instead of the hour and a half trip like last month. We got there 15 minutes early, and were leaving the office about the time his appmt was scheduled. That was cool! We then stopped at Walgreen's. I just love the deals I find!!!

We wanted lunch together, so instead of fast food...we went for Chinese buffet. My, was that pricey! It was $17.50 for the two of us! Yes, Thomas is 13, so we pay adult price for him now..but lunch on a Tuesday? We probably won't do that one again. After lunch, we went to CVS. Not alot of great deals, but a few. We bought Daddy a candy bar and a drink..then stopped at Home Depot to give it to him. It's always such a treat to get to see his smiling face during the day!

We left there and picked up a few things at Wal Mart. Thomas is gearing up for hunting season. He is determined to get a deer this year! He needed camo pants...we found the overall pants...bought those and a few other needed items and headed home.

Let's see...Wednesday....it was piano day. We went to piano, then off to pick up a friend of Rebecca's. The gal we buy milk from had invited Rebecca to go horseback riding with her and her sisters. The other friend was also invited, so we picked her up on our way to get milk. (confused?!) Got milk, left Rebecca and her friend and headed home. We came home to have lunch and start a bit of schoolwork. Then it was time to head back to our piano teacher's home (also my very good friend!). We needed to feed her BIL his lunch. He's a 50+ year old man with the mental age of 5. She had some work outside to do, so we took care of lunch for him. Back home...to do more school work and wait for Rebecca to call. Ran back over to pick her up, drop her friend off and came home to find Honey already home. Time to make supper and call it a day!

Today was laundry day...along with school work and some housework. The weather is turning cooler..and the wind was sure blowing today. The forecast is for heavy rain tonight and tomorrow.

Which leads me to tomorrow's plans. We had planned to go with two friends to Travellers Rest Plantation in Nashville for their 19th Century Trades Days. With a 90% chance of rain, up to one inch....we decided not to go. Most all of the activities are outside...and it's such a long drive....I felt it was best to cancel. I sure hope that rain materializes or I'm gonna feel silly for canceling!

Tomorrow is Honey's last day of work for 9 whole days!!! Yepper, it's vacation time for my beloved!!!! I have a list started of all I'd like to accomplish during this week off from work and school. But, most of all, I just want to spend time with my Honey. I so love being with him. He's my very best friend in all the world.

I have a couple of blog entries brewing in my mind....maybe with a bit more free time, I'll be able to complete the thoughts and get them posted...

Time to get ready for bed....

Rude comments

For the past couple of days, I've been deleting RUDE comments posted on my blog. Most have been the same "Molly" person telling me rude things about my choice for the presidential election. I delete those because they are nothing of substance, only her ridiculous ranting.

But, this morning, Bon from Flanders, NJ left a comment that I must respond to...it was in regard to insurance, and the lack of it for me....

Untitled Comment

Do you know how much one day in a hospital would cost or a ambulance ride. Great another welfare case the tax payers can pay for.

Well, Bon, not that it's any of your business, but YES, I do know how much one day in the hospital or an ambulance ride...would cost 

Last year, I had an ambulance ride, along with a night in the hospital...in the ICU. It was costly. Nearly $7000. And nope, the tax payers didn't pay a dime of it!

Due to these rude, uncalled for, disrespectful comments, ALL comments that don't also include an e-mail address will be deleted. Those that I know personally will be left. Those that I do not, sorry, but I'm tired of the ranting of lunatics.

Thursday already?!

Monday, Monday...

Monday....one of my favorite days of the week. So much promise for the week ahead...

Today is filled with our normal Monday routine...laundry and school work. Plus anything else that comes up. Today, I am determined to not use the dryer at all. I normally do one load in the dryer....socks, undies, washclothes and napkins.....all those little things that are time consuming to hang out. After realizing that our last month's electric bill did not include the rate increase, we are conserving even more. Our bill was a bit higher than I expected, though lower than years past for August usage. But, the weather was cooler and we didn't run the a/c as much as normal. And I was diligent about hanging out the laundry (except for that one load each laundry day). Then I read that the rate increase took effect Oct 1st. Oh! Now, I'm not looking forward to this bill at all!

When Honey left this morning, we heard deer in the front pasture snorting. It spooked me a bit when I first heard it, but Honey told me what it was and calmed me. What a sweetie. I sure didn't want to give him back to Home Depot this morning..but that's what Monday entails. Bummer...I'd so LOVE for him to work at home. I just love being with him. He's my favorite person in all the world.

I had posted some clothes for sale on our local swap and shop...I sold the 6 bags of clothes on Saturday...but also had separate listings for sleepers and such. A woman called last night and wants to buy ALL of them!! She also asked if we had any other clothes or toys to sell. I'm meeting her in town tomorrow, before MNO, to sell her this stuff. Natalie and Mary have been cleaning their room and I know they have toys that they no longer want or play with. The lady buying this stuff is helping out a family that lost their home to a fire. I plan to give her plenty of stuff to give to this family too. I know I have a bag of sheets that I'll wash up and give her...and I'll be looking around today for other things. She told me they have little children and another on the way. How awful to lose everything......

I'm hoping to sell enough "stuff" to be able to buy new tires for the Burb before our trip to Nashville later this month. The back tires are worn...and when the Burb gets to about 55mph, the back end vibrates alot. It would be so nice to have new tires and not deal with that on I-65 that day. I plan to call the tire store to get a price once Honey tells me what kind of tires he wants to replace them with. He'd like to get truck tires instead of the passenger car tires that are on it now. They don't seem to last as long as the truck tires do.

I just heard the washer stop for the second time this morning. I have one load already sorted in the basket and it's time for the second to join the first. The sun is slowing rising, though it will still be awhile before it starts shining down here in the "holler"....

Guess I'll go tend to that laundry...

Have a blessed day!

Sunday evening

Wow...two posts in two days....yeah me!

If you think of it, please say a prayer for my Aunt Nina today...it would have been her and my Uncle Wayne's 45th wedding anniversary today.

After breakfast this morning, Rebecca looked through the Martha Stewart Baking Handbook (from the library yesterday) and decided to make a very decadent chocolate cake with chocolate icing.... that's my girl!

I spent the day getting little things taken care of. I'm working on a chore schedule to go along with the chore packs from Teri Maxwell's Managers of their Chores book. I didn't read the entire book since I'd just seen her speak on this...but I'm looking forward to starting this chore pack system.

I'm loving this new printer!!! I just ordered more ink as the cartridges are only supposed to print about 200 pages...I ordered the XL cartridges this time. I found the cheapest place to order them was from HP directly. They are offering free shipping...of any sort...next day (if it's available in your area..it's not in my area), 2 day and regular 5-7 days. I also found a coupon on Retail Me Not for $10 off! Love that! Once the new ink cartridges arrive, I have some major printing to do.

First, I have been blessed with the Old School House planner!!! I'm so excited about this!! Second, I have also been blessed to be able to review a new e-book from The Old School House. I plan to print it and read it as intended, in book form.  What a treat!!! Next, I have some materials for Keepers/Contenders to be printed before our meeting on Friday. Yep, that will be one busy printer this week!

'Tis time to get everyone ready for bed....will be back in the morning...Monday comes soon....so does 3:30 am!

Saturday....

It's been a busy, but fruitful day today!

We were up bright and early...and hit the road at 8:15. The girls went with me to get our monthly grocery shopping completed. We were to meet a lady at Piggly Wiggly to sell her some clothes. We got there early, so decided to go ahead and start shopping. I had given the lady my cell phone number, so I knew she would call when she arrived.

We did find some great deals...I'm sad that PW is closing...not because I shopped there alot, but because it was another choice. Now, I'm back to Wal Mart only as a choice...

Anywho, they had 40% off the entire store. We bought over $200 worth of groceries for $99! I had several coupons to use as well.

While we were shopping, the lady called...and Rebecca went out to meet the her and sell the clothes. I was so proud of her! She doesn't like doing such things, but she did it right away and without complaint!  That's my girl!!

We left there and went to Walgreen's. Another great trip there! We bought $72 worth of stuff for $1. Yep, $1. I used many coupons and my rebate card from last month...and spent exactly $1 out of pocket! And...I have almost $15 worth of register rewards to use next time.

Then it was off to the library. I found a few cookbooks to read. It's turning cooler here...that means the baking and cooking bug is hitting my home. Both Rebecca and I love to bake...it shows in my waistline...but I do love it!

We then went to the second hand shop...I'm so not impressed with that store now. It used to be such a bargain to shop there. But, they've made some management changes...and it's no longer a bargain. I found a pair of jeans for Natalie...they were priced at $8! $8 for used jeans??! I don't think so!

Then it was off to Wal Mart to finish our shopping. This time, we spent $280. Combined with our $99 at Piggly Wiggly, that's not a bad total for the entire month's groceries. I did forget a couple of things...that will cost about $10...and will need to add produce and fruit....but for feeding a family of 6, that's not too bad!

After we unloaded and put away all the groceries, Rebecca and I decided to rearrange some cupboards. We had loaded up on the energy and granola bars she likes as well as dried fruit. We put that into the cabinet where the cookbooks were kept. Out they came....which led to us rearranging three more large cupboards, labeling everything and making it look oh so much nicer! We still have a few cupboards to rearrange, but that will get done soon. I love opening the cupboards and seeing it all neat and tidy!

Then, it was time to start supper. Chili and cornbread was on the menu. I started frying the hamburger for it and then decided to fry up the hamburger that was needed for this month's meals. So, the pot was filled with hamburger for chili, hamburger potato soup and tacos. The rest of the hamburger went into a freezer bag to be made into Swedish meatballs. While that cooked, I sliced up the round steak into Philly cheesesteak slices, and had enough for two meals' worth! Same with the beef stew meat. Two meals' worth...and both meals are on the menu only once this month, which means it will be there for next months' meals. Once the meat was finished frying, I drained it and ran water over the remaining meat to cool it off. Into freezer bags it went.

Now, when it's time for those meals, all I have to do is pull out the freezer bag and get started. What a time saver!

I'm ready for some relaxing time...think I'll go get Penny (one of our dachshunds) and snuggle up with her. Honey is enjoying our free preview month of DIY this month. Saturday nights are now filled with This Old House, New Yankee Workshop and Wood Works. Reminds me of our early years of marriage...oh how we enjoyed sitting in our bedroom watching that little tv...watching those same shows (minus the Wood Works..but including HomeTime, and other home improvement shows)...then we'd move onto other PBS shows like Julia Child, Frugal Gourmet and others. We both learned so very much watching those shows!

Have a blessed evening!

Thursday already??!

This week is flying by!!

Yesterday was a great day! We went to a corn maze yesterday. I love planning field trips...and I especially love them when we have so many attend.....and have such a great time! We then made a stop at a small store over there. Last time I was there, they were out of Lebanon bologna..but not this time!!! And I found small bags of my favorite chips...Martin's!!! :)

No birch beer this time, though.....bummer.....maybe next time...

Today is filled with school, laundry, Keepers' work, etc. I'd like to do some baking. I'm reading a book from the library about making authentic sourdough bread. I'm excited to get started!!!

The weather is turning cooler here. I LOVE this time of year!! I love that the air is crisp, the days are shorter, snuggling up with my babes under a blanket, the upcoming holidays, etc. It's my favorite time of year.

Honey is taking a week of his vacation at the end of this month!!! We are so excited to have him all to ourselves for 9 whole days!! I already know that I am not going to want to give him back when it's over..but I'll just soak it up while he's home.

I hear the washer has stopped now...time to get those out and ready for the clothesline once the sun comes up. It's not a huge mountain of laundry today, but it's big enough...

Have a most blessed day!!!