Perspective

ANTARES IS THE 15TH BRIGHTEST STAR IN THE SKY

IT IS MORE THAN 1000 LIGHT YEARS AWAY.

NOW TRY TO WRAP YOUR MIND AROUND THIS


THIS IS A HUBBLE TELESCOPE ULTRA DEEP FIELD INFRARED VIEW OF

COUNTLESS 'ENTIRE' GALAXIES BILLIONS OF LIGHT-YEARS AWAY.

BELOW IS A CLOSE UP OF ONE OF THE DARKEST REGIONS OF THE PHOTO ABOVE.

HUMBLING, ISN'T IT?

They are NOT clones! LOL

Okay... someone (several someones...) said, upon seeing my new header, that my children are clones.  LOL  I just don't see that so I set out to prove my point, or prove theirs (whichever way it works out).  I tried to find pictures that look just like the child, a regular smile, etc.. for them.  Now you all get to vote.  Clones or no? 

Caleb

Molly

Sam

Luke

MaryVance

Elijah (he really doesn't have a double chin...lol)

Isaac

Joseph

Nehemiah (who loves to give his Mama a foot squeeze!)

So, please vote, Clones or No?

I definitely think some of them favor... do you?

Which ones?

Thanks!

Frying Chicken

Honey would be proud of me!


Look Mama... fried chicken :)

That's my old trusty cast iron skillet my Mama gave to me.

Boneless strips.
What do you think Mama?

And, look what I made *just for you*... the children enjoyed them in your honor...

Crunchies!

And this picture is for my friend Carol. We were discussing the mertis of single dipping vs. double dipping...

On the left is double dipped, on the right is single dipped.

I used to fry chicken strips years ago... but they were never very crunchy (and I love crunchy) so I gave up.
Enter: Matt (lovingly called Matt Poo by the children and MattyCakes by me - lol)
Matt loves to cook. He taught me his way to fry chicken. Basically everything I had always done except for One Thing.

The One Thing?

Egg.

Yep, egg.

The drench should be made of egg and milk, not just milk. Egg is the secret. Lots of egg and just a splash of milk. Now you know. When you fry chicken you can think of Matt and me :)
No, I, of course, do not have a recipe - lol.
I seasoned flour with seasoning salt. Taste to see that it's well seasoned and not too salty.
Then I beat three eggs with a splash of milk.

I used five boneless breasts and cut into strips.
Then I heated about 1/2 inch of oil in my cast iron skillet.
Drench strip in wet, dredge lightly in dry, drench in wet and then dredge in dry. This time really press firmly to get the flour into all the little nooks and crannies and make sure it sticks well. Shake off excess flour.

Fry.
Drain on paper towels.
Enjoy.

Winter in Florida

photo by Samuel

The Barn Gets A Facelift... and more!

Barns have so much character... I just love them!

This is our old barn... our home was built in 1976 so we are guessing the barn is of a similar age.  It's bones are very sturdy but it has some boo-boos that needed fixing!  A storm some unknown years ago pulled up the roof on the left side at the front and back.  The top floor in the back left corner, having no roof, has rotted.  The bottom right half of the barn was floored (but the flooring was mostly rotten) and the bottom left had no flooring at all.  Other than that, it was in great shape -- considering...

After many hours and much sweat the barn has a new floor on both sides and the roof is mostly repaired.  One more section and it will be all done.  The barn has a new front and new doors that are just awaitin' to be hung! 

New floor!

And painted to seal it.

The outside wall being built.

The interior wall separating the two halves.  The lower half of the wall was already there.

All ready for doors.  And the door up top needs to be fixed too. 

Isn't it pretty?! 

Today, if it doesn't rain, the plan is to finish the top front left of the roof overhang, repair the loft door (and we will probably close in the other door opening) and hang the doors on the ground floor.

Then we'll be all ready to move the storage stuff into the right side and the workshop stuff into the left side.  We'll add electricity later.

A Baby Gift

A close up of the quilt

The red is baby wale corduroy.

The back of the quilt with the toy.

It crinkles :)

And is soft on one side and fuzzy on the other.

I hope they are much loved!

My Happy Place

I have pictures to share of my Happy Place :)

This is the door between the guest room/sewing room and the open space with the computers, door to the bathroom, laundry room, pantry.  Um... how to orient you?  That door is on the east wall.  The curtain to the left is a storage closet for craft stuff.  We have the door but it hasn't been hung .....yet.....

Looking left, the futon and the shelf on the left with Matt and Jennifer's stuff that is still here.

Now your back is at the door and you are facing west.  Those french doors open into the back yard.  See the brick column?  There and to the left was the garage opening.

The dresser with Matt and Jennifer's stuff.  That cabinet holds the snaps and all the embroidery machine stuff.  Hanging on the back of the bookcase--diaper, trainer and bib patterns.

Now your back is to the futon.  Directly in the foreground is a work table.  That's Molly's machine, MaryVance is using it to make a quilt.  Under it are three drawer things with patterns and various sewing supplies.  That shelf to the right has hairbow making supplies on the top shelf, the second shelf is a tote of fabric for the children to use and the bottom tote is mending --- blush.  The large cabinet holds more supplies for sewing, knitting, crocheting and all the scrapbooking stuff.

Your back is to the french doors.

Standing in the corner with the larger cabinet.  My sewing L and fabric shelves in the background.

My spot.  Sewing machine to the left, serger ahead.  I don't like the way the fabric shelves block my view of the doorway but I can't see any other way to do them for now.  When Matt and Jennifer move their stuff out of the dresser we can put it in storage and then maybe put the bookcases flat against the wall.  Or something?

My cutting table.  Right now the ironing board is there because I'm working on that quilt I told you about.

How's that?

Off to finish those wipes.  The bread will have to wait until tomorrow.  Matt just called.  He's coming back with steaks to grill!

Mmmm..

Dana

Hand-Foot and Mouth Disease

Looks like our sweet Sam has HFM... he had a slight fever severals days prior to this:

The flat rash is on the tops of his feet and is spreading up his legs.  It's also on some parts of his arms.  He has a few blisters in his mouth, his throat is a little sore. 

If you are not familiar with HFM, do not dispair, it's a simple disease. 

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common childhood illness that is caused by a viral infection (most commonly the Coxsackie A16 virus). It typically affects children under the age of 10 years, but older children and adults can also be affected.

"Symptoms generally start to appear 3-7 days after becoming infected with the virus, beginning with a mild fever, tiredness, reduced appetite, and sore throat. The characteristic features — mouth sores and skin rash — usually develop one or 2 days after the onset of fever.

The rash appears as flat or raised red spots, which may form blisters. The rash is not itchy, and usually affects the palms of the hands and soles of the feet."
http://www.mydr.com.au/kids-teens-health/hand-foot-and-mouth-disease

HFMD is usually a mild disease, and children generally recover within 7-10 days.  There is no specific treatment for HFMD, and because the disease is caused by a virus, antibiotics are not effective. (Antibiotics can only be used to treat bacterial infections.) However, a simple pain reliever such as paracetamol is often all that is required to treat the symptoms.

So prayers that Sam will heal quickly and that it will not spread are much appreciated!