A day full of family fun

Here is our day together in pictures... we had so much fun, and everything was free! :)
















Have a great day friends. 

07:28 - Thursday, September 11, 2008 - comments {7} - post comment

Family Traditions

Wowzers! I must have bored ya'll to tears yesterday with my Lacto-Fermented lecture... sorry about that, I thought I had more on board with me. :) haha
I thought I would tell you tonight about some things we do around our house... some of our habits, of our traditions.  Some so fun they have been adapted to other households we are in contact with.
We like to sit around the table at supper time.  I feel it is important to sit together, this is the heart... the family meal, the time to talk, to listen, to hear what is important to our family.  Around the dinner table we play
High and Low
So here is how tonights High and Low session looked...
Mom: So Abram whats your High/Low?
Abram: My Low (in Abramish) Popa Ronnie took away the excavator. (My Dad parks his equipment in a field beside our house... when he moves it to go to a job Abram is distraught)
My High-the good supper.   (the reason supper was so good for him is that we had applesauce to go with it, the child LOVES applesauce!)
And so we go around the table from youngest to oldest including Moma and Daddy until we share our best and not so best times with each other.
Like I said, it is a contagious thing... our nieces have taken it home and they now do it, a friends children took it and now they do it... and so on.
Another thing we sometimes do is have *Movie Night*
Oh, this is a grand thing.  Moma makes popcorn, the lights all get turned off, the curtains are all pulled and we watch a movie (usually one from our collection). 
We had movie night tonight because we are still recovering from our bought with a stomach bug.  Everyone got comfy and we watched Nim's Island.
Sometimes we even try to get the FULL movie experience by making our own commercials... My Cameo has a now infamous commercial that we all giggle about when it is brought up...
~~~Slim Jim... It's GOOD for you!~~~
Just say that and we all roll. :)
So what about you guys? Do you have some family traditions that you want to share?  Some special things that you do for fun...  If so let me know... I would love to hear from you.
And Dear Marcy and so many others... So sorry it has taken me all week to get this out for you...

3 cups all-purpose flour plus additional flour for kneading 2 cups whole wheat flour
1/3 cup toasted wheat germ
2 packages active dry yeast
2 teaspoons salt
2 cups milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup solid vegetable shortening

Place 1 1/2 cups each all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour, the toasted wheat germ, yeast and salt in a large bowl. Using an electric mixer, preferably a heavy-duty one with a paddle attachment, briefly mix together the ingredients.

In a saucepan over low heat, melt the shortening. Add the milk and sugar and heat until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is very warm, but no hotter than 120 or 130 degrees. With the mixer at low speed, slowly pour milk mixture into flour mixture until blended. Increase to medium speed and beat mixture for about 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup each white flour and whole wheat flour and beat 2 minutes more. Add 1 cup white flour and beat until dough comes away from sides of bowl.

Knead dough on a lightly floured surface about 8 minutes or until smooth and elastic. (Use very little additional flour.) Place in bowl, cover with plastic wrap and set aside to rise in a warm place until double in volume, about 1 or 1 1/2 hours.

Gently punch dough down and divide dough into four equal portions. Divide each portion into fourths and allow dough to rest just 5 minutes. Form the small portions into balls and with fingertips fold edges under to form even circles. Place on lightly greased baking sheets, about 2-inches apart and with fingertips flatten each bun to a 3-inch circle. (If you prefer the sides of the buns to remain soft, place them closer together. Then as the buns rise the sides will touch.) Cover with a towel and set aside to rise until doubled, about 1 hour.

Adjust rack in lower third of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees at least 20 minutes before baking. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden and buns sound hollow when tapped lightly. Cool completely on wire rack before slicing. (Or cool and freeze, well-wrapped, for up to 1 week.) Makes 16.

To form hot dog buns: Divide dough in half. On a lightly floured surface, pat or roll out each portion to a rectangle about 14 x 5 inches. Cut about eight 5 x 2 inch strips from each rectangle. Between the palms of your hands, roll each portion into 6-inch long buns. Place buns, about 2-inches apart on lightly greased baking sheets. Cover loosely with a cloth towel and set aside in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Bake as directed for hamburger buns.

Variations
Wheat Berries: Add 1/3 cup wheat berries and a dash of salt to 2 cups boiling water. Cover saucepan and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat, and allow to cool, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours or until tender. Drain and dry them well. With wooden spoon, stir wheat berries into dough before kneading it.

Walnuts: Toast 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts in a 325 degree oven about 10 minutes. Cool and with a wooden spoon stir into dough before kneading it.

Olives: Coarsely chop 1/3 cup pitted, oil- or brine-cured black or green olives. With wooden spoon (or paddle attachment and mixer at low speed) stir olives into dough before kneading it.

08:52 - Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - comments {9} - post comment

A day for my hubby

Yesterday was my beloveds birthday... 33 years old.  It seems a bit hard to believe that we are getting that old.
The children and I tried to do things that would bless him for his birthday.  We had some leftover Star Wars party hats and cups... the kids got those out for him.  He requested hamburgers and fries.
 I had no buns so I tried my hand at making my own. 
Here they are rising
They made pretty good hamburgers... I enjoy trying my hand at new things.
Of course he got our Celebrate plate, a tradition in our home, the birthday person gets to use the fancy plate!
And his birthday dessert choice.  Brownie sundaes.
After supper we had a rousing game of Monopoly... the first time we had ever played Monopoly as a family! Can you believe that? It was SO much fun!!! And it was so great to see the kids learning how to count money and be organized.  I hope to play again soon.
Yesterday, I realized something.  If I want to be more self-sufficient I need to learn how to do more.  Example... making my own hamburger buns.  Our nearest town is in the valley, not too far... BUT, it is the pure fact.  I can learn how to do things myself.  I  can save my family money, I can help my family eat healthier, I am capable of making them also.  I could have looked at his request for Hamburgers and fries and went to the grocery and spent quite a bit of money buying  buns, frozen fries, and packaged brownie mix and such.  Instead, I made our buns, our fries were made out of some potatoes we  had left in the bin and the brownies were homemade from a favorite recipe.  Yes, it took a little more planning and organization... BUT, I did it, and afterwards I felt so accomplished.  Not only did I save us money at the grocery, but I saved us money at the pump too... And that is a big deal right now.
So what I am saying is this... I can talk about having a self-sufficient lifestyle all I want... but if I am not willing to work towards having it, and learning some skills, then it is just me full of hot air. :)  Goats, chickens and such will come, but until then I am going to be trying my hand at what I can do in my home to make do, and sometimes even... make better! :)
Have a great one!
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

08:03 - Thursday, August 21, 2008 - comments {14} - post comment

It's Friday...already!

Hello Dear Ones... as you can tell from my blog things have NOT gone as to plan this week.  Early Tuesday morning I was struck down sick, and continued to get even more sick... And I did not start feeling a bit better until late yesterday evening.  Today I feel 100% better than I did, but not 100%...
I tell you, I can not thank God enough for the family He has given to me.   When one is down the others rush to lift them up.  I see it, I hope to be that way for my family as well as my extended family and if I haven't been, I am going to be, because it ministered to my heart.  At one point I could not even speak and my body was aching with pain and I just began to cry, all I could do was cry...
~ I wanted to be up being part of my family, doing my motherly duties, I wanted to be able to kiss and hug each of my children and my husband, I wanted to be sweaty from work, not from fever and chills...~
And as I was crying the sweetest thing happened... my dear, precious husband came and put his big, strong and at the same time tender hands on my throbbing head and prayed out loud. There with our children doing the same...  Praying. Asking God to help me get some relief, to get some sleep, to get better, because they needed me like I needed them.  I was asleep almost instantly... and looking back on it now, it will be one of my most precious memories. 
Like I said, my family is such a blessing to me... bringing me this or that...bringing something easy for Shannon or Cameo to cook for supper... calling to see if they could help me in one way or another... coming by to take home some laundry for me... bringing me a pot of flowers... I love you ALL!!!!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!
 You are my cherished family!!!!!!
xoxoxoxox
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

07:44 - Friday, August 8, 2008 - comments {5} - post comment

Oh, how I love my home...

Oh my, oh my... I love being home.  I am so thankful that I have a home I love to come home to.  Aside from the things we packed everything is clean and put away... it was a nice way to come home. 
We had a wonderful time in Gatlinburg, it was such a special time to gather with Shannon's family...
Here is the whole troop...
I have a lot to catch up on... tomatoes that are waiting on me, REAL cream to go in my coffee this morning (thank Kristin!) and things needing to be put away.  So I am going to go and get started... Have a wonderful day!
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

07:47 - Monday, July 21, 2008 - comments {5} - post comment

Red, White and Blue

Red- My newly painted toenails... I finally redeemed my pedicure yesterday... Thanks Mom... please excuse my four knuckle toes.
White- Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream, a must for any 4th of July cookout! Mmm...
Blue- Freshly picked blueberries, to be made into our Independence Day Breakfast... thanks Linz.

I hope you all have a Fantastic 4th of July... be happy, be safe, and be thankful.  God Bless the USA!!

My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

08:32 - Friday, July 4, 2008 - comments {5} - post comment

Homecoming Pictures

Last Sunday was Homecoming at our church.  It is usually a big time, full of good preaching, good cooking and good fellowship.  I took my camera, but I was so busy doing, I didn't take any pictures.  Thankfully Uncle Zach took enough for all of us!
That look on Carlie Jean's face was hilarious, I think she wanted another deviled egg and I told her that 3 was enough... haha...
Here is my beautiful Moma...
Here is my beautiful sister...
My dearest and I...
3 of my darling children...
A view of the crowd...
Bro  Jim was our guest preacher... The Unity Quartet was our special singers...
We had such a nice day...
I hope you are having a lovely Friday... and I hope your weekend is beautiful too. 
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

08:09 - Friday, June 27, 2008 - comments {9} - post comment

Weekend Recap

Good Morning my friends...
I know I am rather late this morning posting, I have just been getting my stuff going for the morning. 
We went to a big get together in Chattanooga Saturday called J-Fest.  It was  FUN and HOT!!!!




I hope you have a great day and I look forward to this week.
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

08:57 - Monday, June 2, 2008 - comments {5} - post comment

Party time

We had a BIG day yesterday.  We had 4 of our cousins to come over and play yesterday so we enjoyed our day from the get go.
We worked around the house getting all the festivities ready and then we had guests start to arrive. 
Alan and Tyler built us a fire in my pit!
Success!!
The cake
Present time...
The girls
Cameo blessed my heart last night, she leaned over and said to Paige, "This is my best birthday EVER!!!"
It wasn't any big thing, just  friends over and fun times... works for me!
Have a great day friends.
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

09:27 - Friday, May 30, 2008 - comments {3} - post comment

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day from My Family to Yours!
We thank God for this country and for all who have given so much to make this great land, and to our Father in Heaven who is the Giver of all Good things...

09:50 - Monday, May 26, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment