Welcome to our life! We are Tony and Dana Lewis and this is our family and a glimpse into our lives here in the beautiful Upstate of SC.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Girls Room ~ BEFORE
The Boys Room ~ BEFORE
I didn't take Before pictures but here are some I found on the computer. Their room is arranged differently now but you can see the basic idea and the wierd cinnamon color of the furniture. They have four dressers that are from the same collection.
Monday, February 1, 2010
The Bedroom Remodel Project ~ Day 2
Sunday afternoon we finished removing the closet walls.
Had to remove the chair rail and baseboards. The chair rail was put up with huge long nails... ?
Destruction is so much fun!
The little boys (especially) had fun!
Done for today! View from the boys dressing room looking south.
View from the girls room, looking north.
I wish we had some place to put stuff while we are working, but alas, we don't. So we are just working around stuff the best we can. When we get to the final painting, etc... we'll have to move everything out. I can't even imagine... that will be fun! Um, no one come to visit then, okay? LOL
One room is paneling, one room is sheetrock... anyone have a any bright ideas as how to handle where they meet? It's only on the one wall but still?...
Sunday, January 31, 2010
The Bedroom Remodel Phase I ~ Day 1
Um, yeah, What Are We Thinking?!
Okay, now that I got that out of my system, let me explain... Our home is a typical ranch style house. The north end has two bedrooms on each side of the hallway and a bathroom at the end of the hallway. The first bedroom on the left is the boys room, the first bedroom on the right is the girls room. The last bedroom on the left is our room and the last bedroom on the right has served several different functions. It was originally the sewing room and it was the last room we painted. The children all had wanted to help paint (we repainted the entire house when we moved in) and had been so patient that I told them they could paint the sewing room. :D I'm just a good Mama like that... LOL
We were trying to use all the leftover paint (being frugal -snort-) so I mixed the golden yellow from the living room and hallway with the cranberry from the living room and it made this melon color. Now you know why part of the room is melon colored. One wall is sponge painted with all the leftover colors of paint. The children painted one wall theirselves, it has their handprints, footprints and their names and ages. It's so precious :)
Fastforward... I moved the sewing room down to the new part of the house (we closed in the garage) and that bedroom eventually became a closet for the boys. A huge closet. It was their 'dressing room'.
They have outgrown their bedroom, it's too small. The dressing room is too large just for a dressing room/closet so... we decided to move the girls across the hall into the boys room and knock out the wall between the former girls room and the boys dressing room to make one big bedroom for the boys!
Whew. Following me? I, of course, forgot to take "before" pictures when it was neat (well, as neat as a huge closet can ever be)... so here goes:
Standing in the closet looking north
The hallway wall.
The view from the north looking toward the 'soon to be removed' wall!
And in case you were wondering 'why in the world did they paint this room anyway?!'... it was white and silver streaked paneling...
Luke was a little tyke when we moved in and he wanted to write everyone's names and ages on the closet wall :)
And here he is helping Tony pull down the trim from the closet.
Thank you Lord for Luke!
Actually the first thing we had to do was empty the closet so that's why you see shelves of shoes on the other side of this room!
Sam had been outside removing nails from wood we hope to reuse and was anxious to get in on the actual destruction. If you know Sam that will not surprise you at all! LOL
VOILA! And...
I'm optimistically thinking we are 1/4 of the way through with the wall removal. Woohoo!
Okay, now that I got that out of my system, let me explain... Our home is a typical ranch style house. The north end has two bedrooms on each side of the hallway and a bathroom at the end of the hallway. The first bedroom on the left is the boys room, the first bedroom on the right is the girls room. The last bedroom on the left is our room and the last bedroom on the right has served several different functions. It was originally the sewing room and it was the last room we painted. The children all had wanted to help paint (we repainted the entire house when we moved in) and had been so patient that I told them they could paint the sewing room. :D I'm just a good Mama like that... LOL
We were trying to use all the leftover paint (being frugal -snort-) so I mixed the golden yellow from the living room and hallway with the cranberry from the living room and it made this melon color. Now you know why part of the room is melon colored. One wall is sponge painted with all the leftover colors of paint. The children painted one wall theirselves, it has their handprints, footprints and their names and ages. It's so precious :)
Fastforward... I moved the sewing room down to the new part of the house (we closed in the garage) and that bedroom eventually became a closet for the boys. A huge closet. It was their 'dressing room'.
They have outgrown their bedroom, it's too small. The dressing room is too large just for a dressing room/closet so... we decided to move the girls across the hall into the boys room and knock out the wall between the former girls room and the boys dressing room to make one big bedroom for the boys!
Whew. Following me? I, of course, forgot to take "before" pictures when it was neat (well, as neat as a huge closet can ever be)... so here goes:
And in case you were wondering 'why in the world did they paint this room anyway?!'... it was white and silver streaked paneling...
Actually the first thing we had to do was empty the closet so that's why you see shelves of shoes on the other side of this room!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
A-B-C Master Muffin Mix
A-B-C Muffin Master Mix
18 c. flour
5 c. sugar (or equivalent substitute)
2 1/4 c. buttermilk blend or non fat dry milk
6 T. baking powder
2 T. baking soda
2 T. salt
3 T. ground cinnamon
3 t. ground nutmeg
Stir together well, breaking up lumps.
Store in a large airtight container labeled with the date and contents; store in a cool, dry place.
Shelf life: 6-8 months.
Makes enough for about 5 batches of 24 muffins each.
If desired, sugar can be omitted then stir in 1 cup honey for every 24 muffins as you make them.
TO MAKE 24 REGULAR SIZED MUFFINS:
Preheat oven to 400*.
Coat muffin tins with an oil/lecithin mixture, grease with shortening or butter, or spray with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, beat:
4 eggs
3 t. vanilla
2 c. water
1 c. oil (or butter. This measurement is up to your tastes and desires. Some find them perfectly acceptable without any fat, but any amount of oil can be added up to one cup)
Stir in 5 1/2 c. muffin mix and any additional ingredients (listed below) just until moistened. The batter should be lumpy.
Fill muffin tins 3/4 full. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until muffins are golden brown.
Muffins freeze well.
To reheat frozen muffins, microwave on high for 30 seconds per muffin.
These two toppings would go well with almost any of the ABC muffins. Sprinkle mixture atop uncooked muffins before popping them into preheated oven:
STREUSEL TOPPING for 24 muffins:
Mix together:
1 c. sugar
1 t. cinnamon
2/3 c. flour
cut in 1/2 c. cold butter until mixture is crumbly.
CRUNCHY TOPPING for 24 muffins:
Mix together:
1 c. rolled oats
1 c. flour
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 t. ground cinnamon
cut in 1/2 cup softened butter with fork or pastry cutter until crumbly.
TYPE OF MUFFIN:
Ingredients to add to mix before baking:
APPLE MUFFINS:
3 c. raw grated apples
1 t. ground cloves
1 c. nuts or raisins
Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar mixture before baking.
APPLESAUCE MUFFINS:
Omit oil and add
1 c. applesauce
APRICOT MUFFINS:
1 c. chopped dried apricots
BANANA MUFFINS:
2 mashed bananas
1 c. walnuts (opt)
BLUEBERRY MUFFINS:
2 c. fresh or frozen rinsed blueberries
BRAN MOLASSES MUFFINS:
Use only 3 cups of muffin mix.
Stir in:
4 c. bran cereal
1/2 c. molasses
1 c. raisins
BUTTERSCOTCH MUFFINS:
2 (12 oz.) bags butterscotch chips
1 c. chopped nuts
CARROT MUFFINS:
2 c. grated carrots
1 c. raisins
1 1/2 t. allspice
CASHEW MUFFINS:
2 c. unsalted coarsely chopped cashews
CHERRY MUFFINS:
2 c. fresh or dried pitted cherries
CHOCOLATE CHIP FUDGE MUFFINS:
1 1/2 c. cocoa
1/2 c. sugar
3 c. mini chocolate chips
COCONUT MUFFINS:
3 c. toasted flaked coconut
reserve some to sprinkle on the top
CRANBERRY ORANGE MUFFINS:
2 c. chopped fresh or frozen cranberries
1 c. nuts
1/2 c. orange juice
2 T. grated orange peel
CURRANT MUFFINS:
1 1/2 c. currants
1 c. chopped nuts
DATE MUFFINS:
1 c. chopped dates
1 c. chopped nuts
EGGNOG MUFFINS
4 t. run extract
2 c. eggnog (omit water from recipe)
before baking top with mixture of:
2 T. sugar
1 t. nutmeg
1/2 t. cinnamon
FIG MUFFINS:
2 c. dried chopped figs
1 c. chopped walnuts
FRUIT MUFFINS:
2 c. dried diced fruit
GARDEN FRESH MUFFINS:
1 c. grated carrots
1 c. grated zucchini
1/2 t. ground cloves
GINGERBREAD MUFFINS:
2 T. ground ginger
1/2 c. molasses
2 c. raisins
GRANOLA MUFFINS:
reduce muffin mix to 4 cups and add:
1 1/2 c. granola
Top with additional granola before baking
GRAPENUTS MUFFINS:
reduce muffin mix to 4 cups and add:
2 1/2 c. grape nuts
1 t. allspice
HAZELNUT MUFFINS:
2 t. ground cardamom
2 c. chopped hazelnuts
INCREDIBLE CREAM CHEESE MUFFINS:
COMBINE:
2 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese
1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
Drop this mix by T. onto top of muffins before baking.
JAM MUFFINS:
1 1/2 c. jam or preserves (strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, cherry)
1 c. chopped nuts (opt)
KISSES AND HUGS MUFFINS:
1 1/2 c. cocoa
1/2 c. sugar
After filling muffin tins 3/4 full, drop one Hershey's kiss into the center of each muffin, pushing down slightly until kiss is covered. Ice cooled muffins with confectioners sugar and water glaze.
LEMON MUFFINS:
omit 1 cup water and replace with 1 cup lemon juice
4 eggs
1/2 c. chopped nuts
LEMON POPPY SEED MUFFINS:
2 packages (3.4 oz each) instant lemon pudding mix
2 T. poppy seeds
4 eggs
omit 1 cup water and replace with 1 cup lemon juice
MANDARIN MUFFINS:
1 (11oz) can mandarin oranges chopped and undrained
reduce water to 1 cup
1 1/2 c. shredded carrots
MAPLE MUFFINS:
6 T. maple syrup
reduce water to 1 1/2 cups
MARMALADE MUFFINS:
1 1/2 c. orange marmalade
1 c. chopped nuts (opt)
omit 1 cup water and replace with 1 cup orange juice
MINCEMEAT MUFFINS:
1 1/2 c. mincemeat
OATMEAL MUFFINS:
reduce muffin mix to 4 cups and add:
1 c. oats
4 eggs
up to 2 c. raisins or grated apples
ORANGE MUFFINS:
2 c. sour cream
1 c. nuts or coconut (opt)
2 cans (11 oz. each) mandarin oranges, drained
4 eggs
PEACH MUFFINS:
2 c. fresh or one large can (drained) chopped peaches
PEANUTTY MUFFINS:
3 c. peanut better chips
1/2 c. chopped peanuts
PEANUT BUTTER BANANA MUFFINS:
1 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. chopped peanuts
3 mashed bananas
PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY MUFFINS:
1 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. chopped peanuts
drop 1 T. jam into each muffin before baking.
PEAR MUFFINS:
2 c. fresh or one large can (drained) chopped pears
PECAN MUFFINS:
2 c. chopped toasted pecans
1 t. maple extract
PINEAPPLE CARROT RAISIN MUFFINS:
1 c. grated carrots
1 c. crushed pineapple, drained
1 c. raisins
1 c. walnuts, chopped (opt)
PINEAPPLE MACADAMIA MUFFINS:
1 t. ground cloves
1 large can crushed pineapple, drained
1 jar (7 oz. or about 1 cup) macadamia nuts, chopped
PLUM MUFFINS:
2 c. fresh or canned plums, chopped
PRUNE MUFFINS:
1 to 2 c. chopped prunes
1/3 c. poppy seeds
PUMPKIN MUFFINS:
2 c. or 1 can solid pack pumpkin
1 T. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 c. chopped nuts
1/2 c. raisins
RASPBERRY MUFFINS:
2 c. fresh or frozen whole, unsweetened raspberries
RUM RAISIN MUFFINS:
3 t. rum extract
before baking top wiht mix of:
2 t. sugar
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
SESAME SEED MUFFINS:
1 c. toasted sesame seeds
before baking top with mix of:
1/2 c. nuts
4 T. brown sugar
4 T. sesame seeds
2 T. flour
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
SOUR CREAM MUFFINS:
omit one cup of the water and add:
1 c. sour cream
2 c. nuts
2 t. grated lemon peel (opt)
SQUASH MUFFINS:
2 c. cooked mashed squash
1 T. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 c. chopped nuts
1/2 c. raisins
STRAWBERRY MUFFINS:
2 c. fresh or frozen strawberries, chopped
SWEET POTATO MUFFINS:
1 T. allspice
4 T. dry orange peel
2 cans (10 oz. each) sweet potatoes, mashed, well drained (about 2 1/2 cups)
TROPICAL TREAT MUFFINS:
1 c. dried mango or papaya, chopped
1 c. chopped banana chips or 2 fresh mashed bananas
1 c. macadamia nuts, chopped
1/2 c. coconut
1/2 c. sour cream
2 t. grated lemon peel
VANILLA MUFFINS:
2 packages vanilla chips
WALNUT MUFFINS:
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts
WHEAT GERM MUFFINS:
2 2/3 c. wheat germ
4 eggs
1/2 c. extra water
before baking top muffins with mix of:
1/2 c. wheat germ
2 T. sugar
YOGURT MUFFINS:
reduce water to 1 1/2 c. and add:
2 cartons (8 oz each) yogurt, plain or flavored
ZUCCHINI MUFFINS:
2 c. grated zucchini
2 T. cinnamon
1 c. chopped nuts (opt)
This is not an original recipe but it's one we enjoy and I hope you do too!!
18 c. flour
5 c. sugar (or equivalent substitute)
2 1/4 c. buttermilk blend or non fat dry milk
6 T. baking powder
2 T. baking soda
2 T. salt
3 T. ground cinnamon
3 t. ground nutmeg
Stir together well, breaking up lumps.
Store in a large airtight container labeled with the date and contents; store in a cool, dry place.
Shelf life: 6-8 months.
Makes enough for about 5 batches of 24 muffins each.
If desired, sugar can be omitted then stir in 1 cup honey for every 24 muffins as you make them.
TO MAKE 24 REGULAR SIZED MUFFINS:
Preheat oven to 400*.
Coat muffin tins with an oil/lecithin mixture, grease with shortening or butter, or spray with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, beat:
4 eggs
3 t. vanilla
2 c. water
1 c. oil (or butter. This measurement is up to your tastes and desires. Some find them perfectly acceptable without any fat, but any amount of oil can be added up to one cup)
Stir in 5 1/2 c. muffin mix and any additional ingredients (listed below) just until moistened. The batter should be lumpy.
Fill muffin tins 3/4 full. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until muffins are golden brown.
Muffins freeze well.
To reheat frozen muffins, microwave on high for 30 seconds per muffin.
These two toppings would go well with almost any of the ABC muffins. Sprinkle mixture atop uncooked muffins before popping them into preheated oven:
STREUSEL TOPPING for 24 muffins:
Mix together:
1 c. sugar
1 t. cinnamon
2/3 c. flour
cut in 1/2 c. cold butter until mixture is crumbly.
CRUNCHY TOPPING for 24 muffins:
Mix together:
1 c. rolled oats
1 c. flour
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 t. ground cinnamon
cut in 1/2 cup softened butter with fork or pastry cutter until crumbly.
TYPE OF MUFFIN:
Ingredients to add to mix before baking:
APPLE MUFFINS:
3 c. raw grated apples
1 t. ground cloves
1 c. nuts or raisins
Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar mixture before baking.
APPLESAUCE MUFFINS:
Omit oil and add
1 c. applesauce
APRICOT MUFFINS:
1 c. chopped dried apricots
BANANA MUFFINS:
2 mashed bananas
1 c. walnuts (opt)
BLUEBERRY MUFFINS:
2 c. fresh or frozen rinsed blueberries
BRAN MOLASSES MUFFINS:
Use only 3 cups of muffin mix.
Stir in:
4 c. bran cereal
1/2 c. molasses
1 c. raisins
BUTTERSCOTCH MUFFINS:
2 (12 oz.) bags butterscotch chips
1 c. chopped nuts
CARROT MUFFINS:
2 c. grated carrots
1 c. raisins
1 1/2 t. allspice
CASHEW MUFFINS:
2 c. unsalted coarsely chopped cashews
CHERRY MUFFINS:
2 c. fresh or dried pitted cherries
CHOCOLATE CHIP FUDGE MUFFINS:
1 1/2 c. cocoa
1/2 c. sugar
3 c. mini chocolate chips
COCONUT MUFFINS:
3 c. toasted flaked coconut
reserve some to sprinkle on the top
CRANBERRY ORANGE MUFFINS:
2 c. chopped fresh or frozen cranberries
1 c. nuts
1/2 c. orange juice
2 T. grated orange peel
CURRANT MUFFINS:
1 1/2 c. currants
1 c. chopped nuts
DATE MUFFINS:
1 c. chopped dates
1 c. chopped nuts
EGGNOG MUFFINS
4 t. run extract
2 c. eggnog (omit water from recipe)
before baking top with mixture of:
2 T. sugar
1 t. nutmeg
1/2 t. cinnamon
FIG MUFFINS:
2 c. dried chopped figs
1 c. chopped walnuts
FRUIT MUFFINS:
2 c. dried diced fruit
GARDEN FRESH MUFFINS:
1 c. grated carrots
1 c. grated zucchini
1/2 t. ground cloves
GINGERBREAD MUFFINS:
2 T. ground ginger
1/2 c. molasses
2 c. raisins
GRANOLA MUFFINS:
reduce muffin mix to 4 cups and add:
1 1/2 c. granola
Top with additional granola before baking
GRAPENUTS MUFFINS:
reduce muffin mix to 4 cups and add:
2 1/2 c. grape nuts
1 t. allspice
HAZELNUT MUFFINS:
2 t. ground cardamom
2 c. chopped hazelnuts
INCREDIBLE CREAM CHEESE MUFFINS:
COMBINE:
2 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese
1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
Drop this mix by T. onto top of muffins before baking.
JAM MUFFINS:
1 1/2 c. jam or preserves (strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, cherry)
1 c. chopped nuts (opt)
KISSES AND HUGS MUFFINS:
1 1/2 c. cocoa
1/2 c. sugar
After filling muffin tins 3/4 full, drop one Hershey's kiss into the center of each muffin, pushing down slightly until kiss is covered. Ice cooled muffins with confectioners sugar and water glaze.
LEMON MUFFINS:
omit 1 cup water and replace with 1 cup lemon juice
4 eggs
1/2 c. chopped nuts
LEMON POPPY SEED MUFFINS:
2 packages (3.4 oz each) instant lemon pudding mix
2 T. poppy seeds
4 eggs
omit 1 cup water and replace with 1 cup lemon juice
MANDARIN MUFFINS:
1 (11oz) can mandarin oranges chopped and undrained
reduce water to 1 cup
1 1/2 c. shredded carrots
MAPLE MUFFINS:
6 T. maple syrup
reduce water to 1 1/2 cups
MARMALADE MUFFINS:
1 1/2 c. orange marmalade
1 c. chopped nuts (opt)
omit 1 cup water and replace with 1 cup orange juice
MINCEMEAT MUFFINS:
1 1/2 c. mincemeat
OATMEAL MUFFINS:
reduce muffin mix to 4 cups and add:
1 c. oats
4 eggs
up to 2 c. raisins or grated apples
ORANGE MUFFINS:
2 c. sour cream
1 c. nuts or coconut (opt)
2 cans (11 oz. each) mandarin oranges, drained
4 eggs
PEACH MUFFINS:
2 c. fresh or one large can (drained) chopped peaches
PEANUTTY MUFFINS:
3 c. peanut better chips
1/2 c. chopped peanuts
PEANUT BUTTER BANANA MUFFINS:
1 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. chopped peanuts
3 mashed bananas
PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY MUFFINS:
1 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. chopped peanuts
drop 1 T. jam into each muffin before baking.
PEAR MUFFINS:
2 c. fresh or one large can (drained) chopped pears
PECAN MUFFINS:
2 c. chopped toasted pecans
1 t. maple extract
PINEAPPLE CARROT RAISIN MUFFINS:
1 c. grated carrots
1 c. crushed pineapple, drained
1 c. raisins
1 c. walnuts, chopped (opt)
PINEAPPLE MACADAMIA MUFFINS:
1 t. ground cloves
1 large can crushed pineapple, drained
1 jar (7 oz. or about 1 cup) macadamia nuts, chopped
PLUM MUFFINS:
2 c. fresh or canned plums, chopped
PRUNE MUFFINS:
1 to 2 c. chopped prunes
1/3 c. poppy seeds
PUMPKIN MUFFINS:
2 c. or 1 can solid pack pumpkin
1 T. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 c. chopped nuts
1/2 c. raisins
RASPBERRY MUFFINS:
2 c. fresh or frozen whole, unsweetened raspberries
RUM RAISIN MUFFINS:
3 t. rum extract
before baking top wiht mix of:
2 t. sugar
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
SESAME SEED MUFFINS:
1 c. toasted sesame seeds
before baking top with mix of:
1/2 c. nuts
4 T. brown sugar
4 T. sesame seeds
2 T. flour
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
SOUR CREAM MUFFINS:
omit one cup of the water and add:
1 c. sour cream
2 c. nuts
2 t. grated lemon peel (opt)
SQUASH MUFFINS:
2 c. cooked mashed squash
1 T. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 c. chopped nuts
1/2 c. raisins
STRAWBERRY MUFFINS:
2 c. fresh or frozen strawberries, chopped
SWEET POTATO MUFFINS:
1 T. allspice
4 T. dry orange peel
2 cans (10 oz. each) sweet potatoes, mashed, well drained (about 2 1/2 cups)
TROPICAL TREAT MUFFINS:
1 c. dried mango or papaya, chopped
1 c. chopped banana chips or 2 fresh mashed bananas
1 c. macadamia nuts, chopped
1/2 c. coconut
1/2 c. sour cream
2 t. grated lemon peel
VANILLA MUFFINS:
2 packages vanilla chips
WALNUT MUFFINS:
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts
WHEAT GERM MUFFINS:
2 2/3 c. wheat germ
4 eggs
1/2 c. extra water
before baking top muffins with mix of:
1/2 c. wheat germ
2 T. sugar
YOGURT MUFFINS:
reduce water to 1 1/2 c. and add:
2 cartons (8 oz each) yogurt, plain or flavored
ZUCCHINI MUFFINS:
2 c. grated zucchini
2 T. cinnamon
1 c. chopped nuts (opt)
This is not an original recipe but it's one we enjoy and I hope you do too!!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Happy Birthday to Me
A wonderful birthday surprise from my HearthKeepers Birthday Sister!Thank you so much Carla!!!
I love it all, it's all just perfect for me!!
And for a belated birthday supper last night:
Matt, Jennifer and Landon came for supper and we haddrumroll
Luther Burgers!
woohoo!!!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
2010.... 20-10.... Twenty Ten... Already?
The last year of the first decade of the new milennium.
Already?
How's your new year going? I made a decision to get healthier this year and I committed to walking for at least one mile every day on my treadmill. Day one... twenty minutes into my walk.... klerk... klerk...klerk... and it came to a jolting stop. -imagine me frowning and whining here- I am so frustrated. Hopefully Tony can get in contact with the service people soon.
And it's cold here. Really cold. For days and days on end. We are just not used to this anymore. Our lovely Florida warmth has spoiled us...
On a happier note.... I have been reminded over and over how blessed we are with our family and our church family. We have such wonderful friends here, such a loving church family... I am so thankful to the Lord! We also have wonderful friends who don't live here and I am blessed to have them in our lives too!!
And as soon as it warms up we've love to have any of y'all come for a visit!!
Until then, enjoy your hot chocolate :) Add marshmallows and think of me!
Already?
How's your new year going? I made a decision to get healthier this year and I committed to walking for at least one mile every day on my treadmill. Day one... twenty minutes into my walk.... klerk... klerk...klerk... and it came to a jolting stop. -imagine me frowning and whining here- I am so frustrated. Hopefully Tony can get in contact with the service people soon.
And it's cold here. Really cold. For days and days on end. We are just not used to this anymore. Our lovely Florida warmth has spoiled us...
On a happier note.... I have been reminded over and over how blessed we are with our family and our church family. We have such wonderful friends here, such a loving church family... I am so thankful to the Lord! We also have wonderful friends who don't live here and I am blessed to have them in our lives too!!
And as soon as it warms up we've love to have any of y'all come for a visit!!
Until then, enjoy your hot chocolate :) Add marshmallows and think of me!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Our One Year Olds...
Our sweet babies... all are a year old except Sam and MaryVance (they were 9 mo). Aren't they precious? Do you note any family resemblances? Monday, December 21, 2009
Time to get real...
Okay. Alrighty. This is real life here. This is what you see if you just show up at my house! These are not “Hurry! Someone is coming! Clean off the porches! Clean up the yard!” pictures. Use your imagination if you must. LOL
Standing on the front porch looking left (north – aren’t you impressed? I asked Caleb )
Looking straight ahead (that would be east! I love having a smart son!) (two shots)
The tractor is on loan. It started raining and it rained and rained and rained so the mowing hasn’t been finished yet. Surely it will dry up soon!
Our house. It was a dark and dreary day. We have very few of those :woohoo: Note: what appears to be a leaning column is not. It is not leaning. It is on the ground. It keeps getting bumped out of place. I’m thinking it’s not very important, right?
Standing in the front yard panning to the west
At the top of the driveway looking west into the backyard/goat yard area.
Turned 180 degrees, looking down the driveway
What’s this? This is a fire ant mound. It’s about two feet across. They are everywhere.
Where was I? I got distracted…
Oh yes, looking into the goat pen.
Meet Lucy. Ethel died.
The backyard
The back of the house. Um. Yeah. I told ya it wasn’t pretty… but it’s real. Right. Real is important. Right. ?
Look. A cat. A black and white cat. This is Biddy (she’s named for Cordelia Drexel Biddle). I asked Luke. I can’t tell them all apart. We have seven black and white cats. And two grey and white.
The side of the back yard. The movable chicken pens. We love hen fruit here!
Look! What have we here?
Proof that I am a fun mama! A big dirt area behind the back porch. Little boys love to dig. And dig and dig and dig…
See?
See my shoe there? Those are big holes. One of them was four feet deep and there was a tunnel between them.
The burn pile. You must have a burn pile if you live in the country. It’s in the rule book.
The barn. In process of being cleaned out and restored. There’s thirty years worth of someone else’s junk in there….
The south pasture, the dog yard is to the left and the barn is to the right
What is this? Who knows? Wheat or something similar? It’s from where a chicken pen used to set. We have all kinds of interesting things growing in our yard from the chickens! We used to have the chicken pens n the area in the picture just above this one… but we started losing chickens to weasels or possum or something?
More of the south pasture. It’s terribly overgrown. We have nothing to pasture there. There’s no cross-fencing so our land runs right into our neighbors land. It will be bushhogged though… when the weather dries up enough!
Well, that’s it. I hope it wasn’t too anticlimactic LOL If you ever wondered if we are just normal folk – I hope this answered your questions! We love company so come on down!!
Standing on the front porch looking left (north – aren’t you impressed? I asked Caleb )
Looking straight ahead (that would be east! I love having a smart son!) (two shots)
The tractor is on loan. It started raining and it rained and rained and rained so the mowing hasn’t been finished yet. Surely it will dry up soon!
Our house. It was a dark and dreary day. We have very few of those :woohoo: Note: what appears to be a leaning column is not. It is not leaning. It is on the ground. It keeps getting bumped out of place. I’m thinking it’s not very important, right?
Standing in the front yard panning to the west
At the top of the driveway looking west into the backyard/goat yard area.
Turned 180 degrees, looking down the driveway
What’s this? This is a fire ant mound. It’s about two feet across. They are everywhere.
Where was I? I got distracted…
Oh yes, looking into the goat pen.
Meet Lucy. Ethel died.
The backyard
The back of the house. Um. Yeah. I told ya it wasn’t pretty… but it’s real. Right. Real is important. Right. ?
Look. A cat. A black and white cat. This is Biddy (she’s named for Cordelia Drexel Biddle). I asked Luke. I can’t tell them all apart. We have seven black and white cats. And two grey and white.
The side of the back yard. The movable chicken pens. We love hen fruit here!
Look! What have we here?
Proof that I am a fun mama! A big dirt area behind the back porch. Little boys love to dig. And dig and dig and dig…
See?
See my shoe there? Those are big holes. One of them was four feet deep and there was a tunnel between them.
The burn pile. You must have a burn pile if you live in the country. It’s in the rule book.
The barn. In process of being cleaned out and restored. There’s thirty years worth of someone else’s junk in there….
The south pasture, the dog yard is to the left and the barn is to the right
What is this? Who knows? Wheat or something similar? It’s from where a chicken pen used to set. We have all kinds of interesting things growing in our yard from the chickens! We used to have the chicken pens n the area in the picture just above this one… but we started losing chickens to weasels or possum or something?
More of the south pasture. It’s terribly overgrown. We have nothing to pasture there. There’s no cross-fencing so our land runs right into our neighbors land. It will be bushhogged though… when the weather dries up enough!
Well, that’s it. I hope it wasn’t too anticlimactic LOL If you ever wondered if we are just normal folk – I hope this answered your questions! We love company so come on down!!
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