HAPPY NATIONAL CUPCAKE DAY

Welcome folks to the wacky Wednesday edition of The Frugal Mom! So how are you doing this morning? I'm good... thanks for asking! Sorry I am a bit tardy this morning. For once, I got to sleep in so I took full advantage of it LMAO! Not to mention I had actually been up at 4:30am and went back to sleep LOL! I want to wish everyone a HAPPY NATIONAL CUPCAKE DAY and I will be celebrating by making the French Vanilla Rainbow Clown Cakes you see here! And probably a few more fun flavors! LOL! I have so many exciting things to share with you, so hurry and go refresh that cup of coffee and have a seat. Hold on for a wild ride! LOL!

Ok folks, first off, I found out about a crafting contest hosted by JoAnn's and am OH SO EXCITED to bring you! Especially since it's for charity!!! It's JoAnn's Craft For a Cause contest and not only couldl you win a $1500 gift card for JoAnn's, but your favorite charity could win big too... up to $50,000!! I will definitely be entering and I think you should too! Check it out here on the JoAnn's site for the rules and regulations!

"Use your creativity, skills & passion to help your favorite worthwhile cause and enter to win prizes yourself!

Contest Dates:

· Crafting contest begins August 15, 2010 and ends October 30, 2010

· Charity voting ends December 4, 2010

Crafters — Enter to Win $1,500 Gift Card

· Using materials purchased from Jo-Ann make and donate useful crafted items to your favorite charitable organization. Experience the satisfaction of giving!

· Submit photo of each donation - crafted items will be judged for prizes!

· The makers of the top five* crafted items will each win a $1,500 Jo-Ann gift card.

*Judged on creativity, quality & functionality for the charitable organization receiving item. Open to legal U.S. residents age 14 or older. Void in Maryland & Vermont.

Jo-Ann Donates a Total of $90,000 to Three Causes

· The three charitable organizations receiving the most donated items become Craft for a Cause finalists.

· Then you can join other crafters and go online to vote for your favorite among these three."



OMG, OMG, OMG! Then I saw an article on Yahoo that I want to tell you all about! No, its not a frugal tip... well it could be though! Its about a young lady named Marisa Lynch who was in a rough spot in her life and watched the movie Julie & Julia (excellent movie BTW! Saw it in the theater with my mommy YAY!) and was inspired to do something similar with her life. She chose clothing to blog about and make a 365 challenge out of! BUT here is the twist. All the outfits cost no more than $1 a day and she recycled by finding things at thrift stores! OMG isn't that great! Read the whole write up about her on the article called Turn ugly dresses into nice ones for $1 on Yahoo. Or better yet, hop on over to her actual Blog and check out some of her creative creations! Her blog is called New Dress A Day and its really awesome to read through. Some of the things she's found I particularly didn't care for, but some are pretty darn cute! Unfortunately I am nowhere near seeing all the posts as I just found this yesterday LOL!



Ok, now I have to show you this... remember all those stockings I told you I was going to make? Well I finally finished the last one and it ended up being motorcycles instead of Classic cars. I showed the recipient (my DB if you haven't guessed already LOL) and he loves it! So... I had to show you! It was the last of the 4 that I had listed to make, so that mini project is complete! YAY! By Monday, I'm going to have LOTS of surprises for you! Monday starts school! YAY!!!



Now my mom & dad came over yesterday to help me with some things around the house. Dad changed out all my light bulbs, fixed my fan, put up these awesome shelves in my master bath, etc. Mom helped me declutter and organize some problem spots that made me just want to scream! Don't I have like the best parents in the world? After they left, I sat and organized the 2 gigantic boxes of things that were to fill the shelves... keeping my mom's voice in my head saying "one piece at a time". Needless to say, the boxes are gone, lots of things were thrown out, and here is what is left! Very neat and tidy if I do say so myself!



And then there is my cat... my Rebel... my special little baby! I rescued him years ago when I lived in some apartments across town. Kids in the parking lot were beating him, hanging him in a tree, and trying to light him on fire. (Believe me, those kids didn't like it when I took them by the collar of their shirt to their parents and threatened them with legal action but I didn't care!) I nursed him back to health and then the DH fell on him, squishing him... I swore he was gonna die BUT I nursed him back AGAIN! He has some problems now... some due to those kids and some due to Frank LOL, but all in all he is pretty healthy. And FAT! LOL! Anyway, I thought this was the cutest thing and I had to take a picture! I guess since I am always calling him my baby, he was gonna get in the baby's walker and ACT like a baby LMAO! Regardless, I think its too cute and I wanted to share!

Now its time to get crafty! I used to get my DS14 these wooden puzzles to teach him alphabets and such. They were special wooden puzzles aimed at special needs kids and he used to have bunches of them. When I ran across this craft on another blogspot site, I was like "Wow I would have loved to have those back then!" LOL. But I want to bring it to you today because I know that those wooden puzzles have become very popular with kids of all ages and types. Thanks to the fellow blogger/crafter Maria for a great project! So here ya go... your



Craft Idea of the Day: The Puzzle Bag

Materials:

puzzle
fabric
a zipper
scissors
a sewing machine with thread
optional ribbon for a handle.



Well here we are again... time for the most tasty part of your visit! Our BODACIOUS BANANA recipes today are gonna be sweet... cause we are cooking some classics! These are recipes our mothers and grandmothers may have made for us when we were younger. Or maybe they symbolize the South for you... ya never know as it means all kinds of things to different people. Bananas were first found in the region of Malaysia. With the help of curious visitors, bananas found their way to India, Buddhist Pali writings dating back to the 6th century B.C. support this fact. It was Alexander the Great who brought the banana back with him to the western world. Bananas were grown in the southern region of China but only became popular with the masses around the 20th century. Americans first tasted the banana almost three hundred and fifty years later. At that time, they were wrapped in tin foil and sold for 10 cents each at the celebration held in Pennsylvania in 1876, to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Instructions on how to eat the banana also appeared in the Domestic Cyclopaedia of Practical Information.

Banana Nutrition Facts

A banana contains Vitamin C, potassium and dietary fiber.

Bananas do not contain sodium, fat or cholesterol.

The Vitamin C, which is found in bananas, helps the body to defend and heal against infections. This vitamin also proves valuable in the synthesis of the connective tissue, absorption of iron and the formation of blood.

Not only are bananas rich in vitamin C, they also contain potassium. Potassium is a mineral that helps in the building of muscles and protein synthesis. This is done as potassium stimulates nerve impulses for muscle contraction.

A diet rich in potassium is said to reduce the risk of hypertension and stroke. As bananas are free from sodium and very rich in potassium, they can be included in the diet to reduce the risk of high blood pressure.

Bananas contain three natural sugars, sucrose, fructose and glucose along with fiber. A banana thus gives an instant and substantial boost of energy.

A banana contains Vitamin B6, which helps in the synthesis of antibodies in the immune system apart from red blood formation, protein metabolism and functioning of the central nervous system.

No other fruit contain more digestible carbohydrates than bananas. This is advantageous because, the body burns off calories from carbohydrate more easily and quickly than calories from fat or protein.

Interesting Facts About Bananas

The word banana is derived from the Arab word "banan," which means finger.

Bananas are harvested green because they keep ripening even after they are picked.

Unlike most other fruits that grow on trees, bananas grow on plants.

An average American is said to consume more than 28 pounds of bananas every year.

Brisbane holds the world record for the longest banana split, which measured 7.3 kilometers.

3 medium bananas would weigh about a pound.

Despite that fact that bananas love a tropical climate, they are grown in Iceland too, by heating the soil with geysers.

So now that you have had your banana education for today, let's dig in to a few old time banana classics! Eat & Enjoy!



Old Fashion Banana Bread

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 medium, ripe DOLE® Bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
1/4 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped almonds

Directions

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in medium bowl; set aside.

Beat butter and sugar in large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs. Beat in bananas, sour cream and vanilla until blended. Add in flour mixture; beat until just blended. Stir in nuts.

Pour into 9 x 5-inch baking pan sprayed with vegetable cooking spray.

Bake at 350°F., 55 to 65 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes.



Old Fashioned Southern Banana Pudding

Ingredients:

3/4 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup self-rising flour
2 cups milk, low fat or whole
2 eggs, separated
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
vanilla wafer cookies
3 bananas, ripe but firm
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

Preparation:

Combine 3/4 cup granulated sugar, the salt, and the self-rising flour in a bowl.
Slowly stir in milk. Put mixture in top of double boiler over simmering water and cook until mixture begins to thicken. Beat egg yolks then briskly stir a small amount of the hot mixture (about 1/2 cup) into them. Add egg yolk mixture back into the hot mixture in top of double boiler and stir in butter and vanilla. Cook until mixture thickens again.

Place a layer of vanilla wafers in an 11x7-inch baking dish (or other shape 2-quart shallow baking dish). Add half of the sliced bananas. Pour half of pudding mixture over banana layer.

Repeat layers, ending with remaining pudding. In a mixing bowl beat egg whites until foamy; gradually beat in 1/4 cup granulated sugar and cream of tartar.

Beat until stiff peaks form. Spread meringue over pudding. Bake at 350° until browned completely. Remove from oven. Serve hot or cold.

Serves 6 to 8.



OLD FASHIONED BANANA CREAM PIE

1 pie crust (9 inch), baked
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 2/3 cups water
14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
3 egg yolks, beaten
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 medium bananas
lemon juice
whipped cream

In heavy saucepan, dissolve cornstarch in water; stir in sweetened condensed milk and egg yolks. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly.

Remove from heat; add butter and vanilla. Cool slightly. Slice 2 bananas; dip in lemon juice and drain. Arrange on bottom of prepared crust. Pour filling over bananas; cover. Chill 4 hours or until set.

Spread top with whipped cream. Slice remaining banana; dip in lemon juice, drain and garnish top of pie. Refrigerate leftovers.

Serving Size: 6



OLD FASHIONED BANANA NUT MUFFINS

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 1/4 cup mashed bananas
3/4 cup white sugar
1/3 cup applesauce
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray muffin tins with non-stick cooking spray.

In large bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, soda, and salt.

In a medium bowl, beat egg whites slightly. Stir in bananas, sugar, oil, and lemon peel. Add to flour mixture, stirring just until combined. Stir in walnuts. Fill muffin pan cups 2/3 full.

Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until tops are lightly browned. Remove muffins from pan.

Well that's all for me folks! I better get off here and go work on some more decluttering and cleaning and crafting and such. I Also plan on making lots of more cupcakes to celebrate this day of days! YUM! SO have an awesome day, make some delish cupcakes, and I will see you tomorrow! HUGS!

DISH THE DIRT

Good morning everyone! How are you doing today this drizzly first day of July? I am rather soggy but excited… see the little boy named Lucas has come today to visit us for a few hours. Oh we are having such fun! I forgot how much fun babies can be! Today I can get into more detail about subjects I touched on yesterday so you know all of what is going on… so let’s dish some dirt!

Ok first, the newest kitten. We haven’t named it yet, and I am trying not to get attached. It is smaller than my bunny though… maybe 8 weeks if that. Definitely not weaned though… sadly enough. The 2 kittens, Gizmo and Miracle, want nothing to do with this baby. And the bigger cats want nothing to do with any of them. SOOO… if I can nurse this one to sustainable health, perhaps it may go back outside? See, we had a tree get 90% uprooted during Hurricane Ike in our back yard. Well the landlord never pulled it up and the roots hung to make a tunnel under the base. In this tunnel, one of the female outside cats recently had kittens. I saw them playing out there one day. Well, the lawn care man was out there today when I got back. He was cutting down the trees and weedeating around it. Well I have a feeling that this baby got scared of the noises and ran out of the hole and on the way out he inadvertently grazed the kitten with the weedeater, or kicked it, or something. Either he, or maybe one of the bigger cats or another animal. I am not sure. Somehow it got up near my porch for me to find, so someone knew it needed help. I think it’s a little girl and she is a light smoky gray color with white feet and bulging blue eyes… and smaller than the bunny! Cutest little thing you can imagine! But I got to get all these cats over hissing at each other. Even the kittens hissing and they are just so small still! It’s crazy!

Then we had a Hurricane Barreling down on the Gulf Coast. I have been watching non-stop coverage of Hurricane Alex and it made landfall not far from where my grandmother lives on South Padre Island late last night. Alex is the first early season/June hurricane since 1995 and the strongest one since Alma in 1966. We are all concerned about grandma, but she seemed in great spirits when I talked to her last. She was making biscuits LMAO! And she told Mom that people were kayaking down the main road which goes down the middle of the island… the main strip if you will. Just keep her in your thoughts please. Thanks!

Ok, Let’s get crafty! So, are you liking the “man” crafts? I figure most people have a man they would need to gift to for a special occasion. I am gonna give you another one. Lots of Dads, Fathers, Brothers… men in general… are football freaks! How about these cute ideas for a gift!



Craft Idea of the Day: Armchair Quarterback Survival Kit

Purchase a new empty gallon paint can from your local paint, hardware, or even craft store. Fill it with snacks that store well like pepperoni sticks, summer sausage, beef jerky, cheese, crackers, popcorn, candy, etc. Don't forget the Bad Call Brick! You could also add a pizza gift certificate or even the pizza sale coupons that come in the mail. And if you really want to jazz it up add the Tylenol and Tums. Decorate the can with football fabric or logos of your favorite team. Do a search on the web for your team. Add the Armchair Quarterback Survival Kit poem.



Additional Craft Idea of the Day: Bad Call Brick

During football season when shoes, cans, lamps, etc. go flying at the TV when a bad call is made, it is a good precaution to have a Bad Call Brick nearby!

A brick-sized sponge may be used as is or dip it in brickish-colored, watered down paint and squeeze.

If sponge is pre-moistened with sanitizer, rinse it good. Dry sponge in the dryer to make it more dense like a real brick. This also rounds the edges a bit like a real brick. Attach the poem.

Yummy yummy in my tummy time! Yes, another day, another Dollar Store Dining recipe! YUM! Today we are going to talk some baked goods and sweet treats! YUM! Ok now the book has a total of 28 mouthwatering recipes to satisfy the sweet tooth. I’m bringing you 2 of the ones ranking tops in my desires… although I will admit, I won’t turn away cakes, tarts, fruit, flambees, or brownies any day! LMAO! So Eat & Enjoy (and remember to rinse and floss afterwards LMAO!)!



Banana Bread Pudding with Dulce de Leche

Makes: 6-8 servings
Costs: about $3.99

This is by far the most amazing, delicious, affordable, simple (yet extravagant) crowd-pleaser EVER! I came up with the idea of serving this when I knew that making the Flambeed bananas for 20 would make me feel more like a short order cook than a hostess. This recipe doubles easily and it can be prepared hours in advance. Once cooked, it can be frozen and warmed up in a microwave. A perfect dessert for a big party, and so good for breakfast the next day! (You may omit the bananas or even add 1 ½ cups of any chopped chocolate, if you desire.)

Ingredients:

1 to 2 cans of Star sweetened condensed milk, for the dulce de leche
3 to 4 packed cups of cubed bread made from 1 loaf of Premium white bread
2 very ripe Dole bananas
3 Country eggs
3 cups Springfresh Milk or milk substitute (coconut milk is very good to substitute)
1/3 cup Spreckels sugar
½ teaspoon McCormick Salt
2 teaspoons Spice Classic vanilla extract

Directions:

1. There are two ways to prepare dulce de leche. The safer way is to pierce two holes in the top of the can of milk, place in a saucepan with enough water to come three quarters of the way up the can, bring to a boil, and continue to boil on medium high heat for 1 to 2 hours for a runnier sauce or 3 to 4 hours for a more solid form.

2. The way I was brought up to do it as follows: Fill a large saucepan and place the unopened can of sweetened condensed milk in the cool water, making sure that the water comes high enough to cover. Bring to a boil, then turn down heat and simmer about 3 hours. Add water occasionally so that the can is always covered, and make sure to keep the flame very low to avoid an explosion. Remove from heat and cool can thoroughly before opening.

(**Recently, Nestle and other companies have now began offering a can of ready to use Dulce de Leche, making the process of actually making the dulce obsolete. You can simply substitute canned Dulce for the Sweetened Condensed Milk if your local Dollar Store offers them.**)

3. In the meantime, spread the cubed bread on the bottom of a 9”x13” baking dish and slice the bananas evenly, nestling them in the bread.

4. In a mixing bowl, combine the eggs, milk, sugar, salt, and vanilla. Pour this custard over the bread.

5. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes until firm, but not dry.

6. Serve either on individual plates, drizzling the Dulce de Leche on top, or set out so your guests can serve themselves with sauce on the side.

(***Helpful Hint***) Attaching the inside banana skin to a nasty bruise will draw out the internal bleeding.)



Delicious Toffee Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Makes: about 3 dozen cookies
Cost: about $4.99

Ingredients:

1 cup Imperial Margarine
1 cup Spreckels Sugar
1 cup Lucky golden brown sugar
2 country eggs
2 tablespoons Springfresh milk
1 ½ cups Best yet all purpose flour or 1 cup Manischewitz cake meal
½ teaspoon Spice supreme salt
1 teaspoon Arm & Hammer baking soda
2 cups Good & Hearty quick rolled oats
1 (8oz.) Zachary solid Milk chocolate Easter bunny, chopped (or any milk chocolate bars available at that time)
1 (4oz.) can Star Snacks toffee almonds, chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2. In a large bowl, cream margarine and sugars, ½ cup at a time. Beat in eggs and milk.

3. Add flour, salt, and baking soda and beat well.

4. Add oats, chocolate chunks, and finally the almonds. Blend well.

5. Drop in rounded teaspoonfuls two inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes. Remove and let cool.

(***HELPFUL HINT***) For perfectly round cookies, pack the cookie dough inside a clean food can and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Remove the bottom of the can with an opener and use the disc to push the dough out. Stop at your desired thickness and slice. Use the can as a guide.

Ok gang… now that I have saturated your sweet tooth, I am gonna get off of here and get busy with today’s chores. Gotta try to call my Grandmother who is in South Padre right now, dealing with this whole Hurricane Alex thing. Ah… Kids and kittens and babies everywhere! I feel like the Wizard of Oz… Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh My! LMAO. Ok well ya’ll be safe wherever you are and I will see you tomorrow! HUGS!

YET ANOTHER RESCUE

Good evening boys and girls. I am so sorry this blog is so very late. My computer completely stopped working and I had no access to the net… until now! Somehow, I got the cable line to reach into my DH’s PC in the bedroom and so that is where you find me now. I took MY PC over to my dad to see if HE could figure out WTF is going on! I came home and began trying to get the internet line onto DH’s PC so that I could do my daily entries until my on computer was feeling better. It took awhile but I finally got it!

THEN… when I came back, guess what I found? I little TINY kitten that can’t be more than 8 weeks old… and I am for certain is not weaned! It was by my door beaten and half dead, I swear! I think the lawn man may have caught it with the weedeater when he was doing the back yard, etc. or some other bigger cat or animal attacked it or IDK but all I know is I wasn’t gonna leave it outside to die! I can’t! Luckily, the other day I picked up a carton of kitten milk when I got rabbit supplies at Petsmart. I didn’t know WHY I got it, and it was the only one, but something in my gut said to get it… and now I’m glad I did! This kitten is smaller than the bunny!

OK since it’s so late, I am gonna get right to the good stuff today… I am still on the kick about crafting for guys, cause they’re just so dang hard to gift AND I have so many in my family to give to LOL! Well, I don’t know about yours, but the guys in my family are real American red-blooded men who get out and get dirty. TOOLS are a big thing with them… they work on and fix EVERYTHING! SO, I thought that this tool wrap in some really cool materials, like camos, skulls, John Deere, etc. would be something they would really like and use a lot! Maybe it’s a good gift idea for that special man you need a special gift for too!



Craft Idea of the Day: Tool Wrap

SUPPLIES:

Duck cloth, dark color — 1 to 1-1/2 yards per roll-up. This is just a ball-park figure; your roll-up might be significantly different than mine.
Upholstery Thread, dark color
1″ nylon strapping, a 20″ piece — Hold the raw ends in front of a candle flame to heat seal them from ravelling.
1″ inch buckle
1″ strap adjuster
Fray Check

Directions:

The directions are very detailed and include lots of pictures for great step-by-step instructions, so just go to the site and get this great craft there! I hope you enjoy it!



Ok kids, its time for another installment of Dollar Store Dining! WOOHOO! I am having so much fun with this, you can’t even imagine! I hope you are having just as much fun! Today is main course midweek day LOL! I am gonna bring you a couple of main course meals that are sure to please your palate AND your pocket book! BTW, if you want to pick up a copy of The 99 Cent Only Stores Cookbook by Christiane Jory, check your local book stores or go to Barnes & Noble online and buy it there for $11.10… there are tons of recipes in this great little paperback book! For instance, the main course section contains 30 meals alone (Including one for smoked mussels MOM!) LOL! Today I will bring you 2 of the ones that jump out to me and say “Pick Me… Pick Me!” LOL so I hope you like them and… as always… Eat & Enjoy!



Mexican Chicken (sounds like a Mexican Lasagna if ya ask me… sounds good! YUMMMMM!)

Makes: about 6 servings
Cost: about $12.99

A layer of jalapeno slices and/or hot salsa will let you spice this up to your own taste. This can be prepared quickly, and if you freeze your cheese, all the ingredients can be kept in stock.

Ingredients:

1 cup Spice Box dried chopped onions (use fresh onions when available)
2 to 3 tablespoons Dutch Farms Wisconsin margarine
1 (10.5 oz.) can Baron cream of mushroom soup
1 (10.5 oz.) can Baron cream of chicken soup
1 (28 oz.) can Sun Roma sliced tomatoes
3 cups Crider cooked chicken
16 Guerrero corn tortillas, quartered
3 cupsCheese Pleasers grated cheese, jack or cheddar

Directions:

1. Preheat Oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Soak Dried onions in hot water for 5-10 minutes. Drain.

3. Saute onions in margarine until golden.

4. In a large bowl, mix soups, tomatoes, and chicken. Mix in onions.

5. Line a baking dish with quartered tortillas, then chicken mixture, then cheese. Repeat layers, finishing off with the cheese. Bake for 35 minutes.

(***HELPFUL HINT***) If you use commercial products to clean your oven, be sure to cover the thermostat wire with newspaper or foil. Harsh cleaners throw off your cooking temperatures. Be sure to remove your covering after cleaning and before turning the oven on.)



Corned Beef Casserole

Makes: 4 servings
Costs: about $2.99

This, like most meat casseroles, can be doubled easily. It is hearty and makes great leftovers. At about 75 cents per serving, it is a tasty way to get through a financially trying week. (This dish can be prepared the night before and refrigerated before baking. Bring to room temperature before placing in oven.)

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon Spice Box dried chopped onions (use fresh onions when available)
1 cup Allegra macaroni
1 (12oz.) can Clasico Corned Beef
1 (15oz.) can Libby’s cream-style corn
¼ cup Spice Box dried chives

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Soak Dried onions in hot water for 5-10 minutes. Drain.

3. Cook macaroni according to package instructions. Drain.

4. In a mixing bowl, break up corned beef; add onions, corn, and chives.

5. Mix in macaroni and place in a medium-sized greased casserole dish. Bake until golden and bubbly, about 30 minutes.

(***HELPFUL HINT***) Pasta added to water before it starts to boil can become mushy. The heat of boiling water seals the outside of the pasta, preventing it from sticking together as well.

Alright kids, its just about time for me to get off here and try to give this new kitten a feeding. This is insane… why are all these little animals calling/finding me all of the sudden?? Oh well… save a life as my mother says! I will see you all tomorrow for more crazy updates! Until then… HUGS!

ROSEY RED RUSSIA

Здравствуйте ("zdra-stvooy-tye" Hello) and good morning to all my друзья (friends) out there in blog land! How are you doing this first day of hot summer work week? I’m good… a little stiff and a few ant and mosquito bites, but other than that… ok!

I grilled yesterday for the DH for Father’s Day and I did some additional batch grilling to use in dishes the next couple of days. I grilled some Chicken legs in 3 different flavors (Buffalo, Oriental, and Cajun) but DH ate all the buffalo ones LOL… he loves my homemade sauce! But man did he pay last night for it LOL! Ok, then I grilled a pack of brats and a pack of hot dogs. Grilled some different flavored marinated steaks and then a T-Bone for DH. Grilled some fresh jalapenos too and some homemade veggie burgers! MOM… you are trying these… you cannot tell the difference from beef! Even DH was really liking them! I made them using… well I am not telling you LOL! Gonna make some for DD’s party as we have at least 1 child I know of that is a vegetarian! I really liked it- and I’m the kinda girl that you don’t play with my burgers! LOL! SOOOO…. Gonna make a bunch more and freeze the patties so I have plenty! Even DD thought they were pretty tasty! DS wanted nothing to do with anything but the hot dogs LOL!

Ok, I have got a kitten update for you all… they are doing much better. I got them both to eat some dry cat food YAY! And they drank some pedialyte. They have also pottied in the litter pan DOUBLE YAY! 1 little oops on the floor but it was near the pan so I think he just couldn’t make it in time. ALSO (and this is a doozy LOL) I think Miracle might actually be a boy… still kinda young, so rather hard to tell… I gave them another bath last night and tried some home remedies for flea treatment (cause lets face it “au natural” is better than chemicals anyway PLUS who has that kind of money to spend on that stuff that may or may not work? NOT ME!). I am happy to report that I have gotten rid of almost all of the fleas!!! YAY!!! I used a homemade rosemary spray on Gizmo and a Lemon spray on Miracle. I also used a few drops of Tea Tree Oil in their bathing and I used Johnson’s baby shampoo to wash them and drown those pesky fleas! I’m going to give them a break in the baths today (as it takes a lot of energy out of them LMAO) and maybe 1 more treatment tomorrow and they should be completely flea free! YAY! (Insert the happy dance here! LOL) I will keep you all updated.



Ok, so I got a question… do you think it’s worth it to “go green”? How green are we, really? Well what if someone told you they saved over $10,000 going green? Would you consider it then? I sure would… so I brought you this article I thought some of you might find interesting!

New York Woman Shifts to Green, Saves More Than $10,000
by Diane MacEachern

Our latest One in a Million member is Nancy, an Episcopal priest and practicing psychologist who lives in central New York state. The One in a Million campaign encourages people to shift $1,000 of their household budget to greener products and services. I was amazed to learn that Nancy shifted so much she actually saved more than $10,000 without feeling deprived. Here's her story.

What inspired you to make so many "green" changes in your life? My doctoral studies were in MindBody medicine and holistic healing...which led directly to my first change: become a vegetarian(1991)—which reversed bone loss. In the intervening years I continued to study, teach courses, and give lectures and workshops on holistic healing and spirituality. My studies and workshop presentations expanded in 2005 after I learned about the known health risks associated with land fills at a meeting of the local chapter for the League of Women Voters. The local land fill had expanded despite opposition and was (and is again) asking to expand.

Troubled by the evidence, I began reading about recycling, which led me to studies about plastics, cleaning agents, bath and body care, cosmetics, and, surprisingly, food safety and how they affected human health and the environment. The readily available evidence was, and remains, shocking and deeply distressing. I believe that all of us need to be more conscious of the factors which affect our health and over which we can chose to have control, with our voices, pocket book, and votes. As a person living with a life-long disability I felt that, based on this new learning, I had a responsibility to act on it by making conscious choices about my life and health as I move toward retirement and continued aging!

That led to my second change: I became a vegan, eating only organic foods at home, and have reaped more health benefits than I imagined possible. No more antibiotics and hormones I didn’t chose, need or want; no more insecticides and pesticides bred into Genetically Engineered foods—as far as I can determine and choose; reading labels to avoid corn derivatives and high fructose.

All of this learning, alongside continued growth and new learning in my spirituality and prayer life, led me to my third change: a decision to become conscious and present to the world and nature around me, as well as to family, friends, and neighbors. All of life breathes the same air, is exposed to the same water, and shares the consequences of toxins in the land fill. The very least I could do was to avoid adding toxic, disposable, meaningless stuff or organic garbage, leading to my fourth change: changing my patterns of consumption, understanding the what and why of every purchase. Suddenly you see the stuff that clutters home, office, car and life. Stuff that wastes financial resources and generally obscures the meaning or purpose of one’s life. De-cluttering is a lesson in letting go and led to my fifth change, saving money as my shopping habits changed.

Are your choices for you alone or for a household? I live alone but children and grandchildren visit often. They know the routine -- I have posted a list of what items go in the paper basket, the compost pail, the small garbage basket, the shredder and the recycling can (in kitchen). The cleaning woman, handy man, and lawn person know what goes where in garage containers each week.

What was harder than you thought? Eating out with NO dairy products. My experience has been that the majority of restaurants, chefs, and cooks in small cities are not well-informed or prepared to serve vegetarians and vegans.

What was easier? The absolute easiest thing was simply adding each new change as I came to it and then living into it. I have a savings account for my ‘annual savings,’ which I use for life-giving organic foods, addressing needs (recreation, retreat, play) instead of wants, and enjoying a healthier and more purposeful life!

What's next? These changes are part of a spiritual journey that I hope will continue to evolve and deepen. I hope my example or words will save at least one person and one child from the toxic effects known to exist in our environment, water, food, and products we consume or purchase in blind faith. My greatest hope is that in the near future, Americans will take to the streets and demand accountability of corporations and government agencies for safe food and water, and non-toxic, renewable and sustainable products. If we dream GREEN, we will become GREEN!

Nancy's Green practices explained with savings:

Switch to natural cleaning agents - saving $800-900/yr. By natural, I mean: vinegar, baking soda, lemons, castile or natural soaps, peroxide, salt. NO BLEACH.

Create zero waste - saving $180/yr. The zero-waste effort led to canceling my trash service. In addition to a monthly fee, they charged per bag beyond 2 bags, which can happen if your put leaves and grass clippings out. All organics, wet garbage, yard waste, and shredded paper, compostable picnic table ware (rare) go into compost. I have two piles so one is in use while second matures and gets used up. I use the simple layer method which Cornell advocates. I take my recycling to the municipal solid waste transfer station every 3 months. I also take one (1) $3.50 large plastic bag with non recyclable, non compostable garbage once a year.

Water faucet- Drink and carry tap water - saving $500+ annually. I don’t want plastic toxins leaching every minute into my water. Plus, I want to eliminate CO2 emissions and costs of plastic bottles and transporting water world wide, often at the expense of poor people with little or no access to their own water supplies.In addition to saving money, I am expressing my personal values and beliefs in the face of big corporations that bottle and sell for profit water at the expense of poor people whose right to it has been stolen.

Buy $.99 reusable grocery bags, eliminating real costs of using and disposing of plastic bags - savings $100/yr. These bags are also often used for giving small gifts rather than purchasing gift bags or wrapping paper, tape, ribbon, bows.

Limit gift giving - saving $500. My gift giving is generally limited to a small gift to open and a donation for relief of poverty in some way (e.g. mosquito nets; poultry to raise, feed, sustain income for a family; building a school in Sudan; and now, for Haiti.) There's no over-spending for “just one more gift.” No environmental costs.

Drive fuel-efficient car less - saving an average of $100-$150/month, or $1200 - $1800/yr. As often as possible, I plan errands, appointments, and work travel so I can drive in a circle and save extra trips to buy food. There are always the unexpected trips but planning cuts down on fuel costs. If I need something at the home improvement store/mall I wait, if possible, until I have a list of everything I need from stores in that area (12 miles away). This has cut shopping trips to the mall area to 4 or less per year. I generally work from a home office, which also cuts fuel consumption.

Buy no fragrances: no perfume, scented candles, or air-freshners - saving $500+ annually. I open windows or doors; use all natural cosmetics, limited to foundation & rouge (see Cosmetics Database). Bath and body products are w/o fragrance and generally cost less. The health benefits are related to avoiding carcinogens, nano particles, phthalates, and asthma-causing ingredients.

Avoid plastic wrap -- saving $150 annually. I use brown wax paper in microwave (limited use) and re-useable plastic bowl covers or lids for food storage in glass kitchen ware. I never purchase plastic food containers.

Minimize paper -- saving $300. I use compostable picnic ware for those few times I am unable to use washable ware. I read newspapers online. When purchasing subscriptions to journals or placing catalog orders I request my contact info not be rented or sold. I am registered on the Mail Preferencing services and have a note on my credit records. This effort dramatically reduces junk mail and the amount of recycling I need to do. All loose paper goes through my shredder and is added to compost pile. Magazines and journals are generally saved or shared.

Use compact light bulbs & other efficient appliances - saving $200/yr. CFLs, which last 708 years and use less electricity, power all light fixtures. I replaced my old refrigerator 4 years ago and purchased an energy-saving dishwasher recently. I turn off my computer when away from my desk for more than two (2) hours and overnight. I turn off and unplug all electronics not in use, including the flat screen TV. I only turn on lights in rooms being occupied by a person and have attractive night lights in rooms which we may need to visit briefly after dark. My TV use is limited to evening news and occasionally a PBS special.

Buy used, refurbished goods - saving $2,000/yr, plus gas, energy and time to shop. My purchases, beyond health and house maintenance, are generally confined to gently used, repurposed, or refurbished items.

Grow own food -- saving $450-$500 on food, garden chemicals. I have two “square foot garden” boxes in which I grow organic produce every year, and share with a daughter and family. I figure I save $700.00, of which I use $350.00 for a CSA share for fruits, potatoes, and other or, unusual, vegetables I don’t grow.

Conserve water -- saving $100/yr. I installed two free rain barrels, offered by our county storm water management for attending a course on storm water. The rain barrels collect roof water run off, which I use to water front and back, including vegetable, gardens. I have a small home but collected enough water to keep both barrels full all but a few days last summer, watering daily.

Installed gravel driveway -- saving $4,000. My paved driveway was torn up to install a dry ditch four years ago (for run off from a side hill). Hard surfaces cause storm water flooding and permit toxins to reach water supplies. Without hard surfaces, ground water is filtered by soil before it reaches water supplies. Consequently I choose not to repave the drive and instead have crushed stone. (I live in a traditional, residential neighborhood.)

Feeling inspired? Take the One in a Million challenge yourself.

So tell me… as far as crafts go, is there anything you would like to see more of? And is anyone going to take the 150 day Christmas Countdown challenge with me?? I would love to hear from you guys and girls out there! As for a craft for today, well… with summer here, and my love of fruits… I saw this cute idea and had to bring it to you! You can do them in all kinds of colors, etc. Check them out!



Craft Idea of the Day: Fruit Slice Placemats

A fun and quick craft you can vary just by changing the fabrics.

Approximate Time: 1 hour

Supplies:

1/4 yd of each fabric
fleece for backing
sewing machine
scissors
pins

Instructions:



Either enlarge my pattern or draw a wedge shape. By changing the fabrics, you can have a watermelon, an orange, lemon, apple, or whatever fruit you like.

For the watermelon, cut enough strips of various widths of several red fabrics, narrower at one end than the other to cover the pattern. Sew them together putting one narrow end together with a wide end until you have enough to cover the pattern. Cut out the base of your placemat.

Measure from one point around the bottom and up to the opposite point, add 2 inches. Cut this measurement from a white and a green for your outer rind and inner rind on the bias of a piece of fabric.

Sew your inner rind fabric on, being sure not to stretch the bias, iron flat. Repeat with outer rind, press flat.

Lay right side to right side with your fleece, pin and cut out. Sew a quarter inch seam leaving a 5 inch opening to turn your fruit. Turn and sew the opening shut by hand.

For the watermelon, sew "seeds" with embroidery floss. For the orange slice, divide the bottom edge into segments and draw a line from the center of the top to those segment marks. Sew with a zigzag just to the white fabric. Leave the rinds unsewn so they puff up a bit.

By Ann from Loup City, NE

OK are you ready cause today starts your new FOOD week! After thinking about what interested me, I thought about heritage… parts of my father’s family comes from the area of Lithuania/Ukraine, etc. so I decided that I would bring you some flavors from the largest country in the world… Russia! A great choice of soups in Russian cuisine is explained by the folk habit to have a soup meal at least once a day. Schi, borsch, rassolnik, botvinia, ukha, okroshka, solianka and many others has been a peculiarity of Russia since ancient times. Soups can be made on meat, fish, mushroom, vegetables or milk stocks. Russian appetizers (in Russian, they are called “zakuski”) were meant mainly not to provoke keen appetite but to have them with strong drinks. So, most favorite Russian appetizers were all kinds of pickles and cold meats which go best with ice cold vodka. But not only vegetable pickles were used in Russian cuisine, the abundance of sea and river food provided cooks with a wide range of various fish appetizers. So, we shall start the week with a soup and an appetizer to begin to tempt your taste buds… Eat & Enjoy!



Ukrainian Borscht

Borsch is the best known Russian dish beloved all over the world. To cook borsch is not an easy thing, you should know specific details to get this unforgettable sour-sweet taste and rich red color. Borsch can be made on meat, mushroom or vegetable broth. Another very important thing is to prepare beet rightly - it can be stewed, boiled, balked or steamed. Just find your way!

Ingredients:

1 qt Water
2 qt Beef stock
3 tb Sunflower oil
2 c Beer (not Lite)

-or-

2 c Beet kvass
2 ea Beets, lg. peeled & juliened
4 lb Beef, chuck w/ bone
3 tb Red wine vinegar
1/2 lb Smoked pork butt
2 tb Butter (NOT margerine)
1 ea Carrot, lg. scraped, diced
1 ea Onion, med. coarse chopped
1 ea Cabbagehead small shredded
3 tb Tomato paste
1 1/2 tb Salt
Black pepper to taste
4 tb Parsley, minced
1 c Potato, peeled & diced 1/2in
1/2 c Sour cream

Method:

In a large stockpot bring the beef to a boil in 2 1/2 qts. water with 1 tb of salt. After 10 minutes of boiling reduce heat & simmer for 30 minutes more, then remove meat, cool and remove meat from bone & cube 1/2". In a large skillet on heat the oil on medium heat. Saute the onion, beets, & carrot until they are soft. Add the potato & butter then cook for 2 minutes more. In the mean time bring the beef stock, water & beer (or kvass) to a boil in the stockpot. Add salt & pepper, vinegar, & meat. Drain the beet-carrot-onion & potato mixture & add to stockpot. Reduce heat & cook for 20 mins. then add cabbage, tomato paste & pork butt. Cook another 30 to 45 minutes. Remove from heat & allow to cool to room temperature. Refrigerate overnight, re-heat and serve. A large dollop or 2 of sour cream in the soup is mandatory when served. Allow each person to stir it in themselves.

*NOTE: You may add 1 1/2 cups of cooked white beans to this soup if you wish but if you do so soak them in the vinegar then add them to the soup.



Russian Meat Balls In Vodka

Ingredients:

2 1/2 pounds hamburger,
2 eggs, slightly beaten,
2 cups cracker crumbs,
1/2 pounds ground lean pork,
1 cup milk,
1/2 teaspoon lemon rind,
1/4 teaspoon nutmet,
1 teaspoon salt,
1/4 teaspoon pepper,

Method:

Mix well and let stand for 1 hour, then form into small balls. Brown in a skillet in drippings along with 3 cups thinly sliced onions for about 15 minutes. Remove from pan. To the drippings, add 1 cup sour cream and thicken with 2 tablespoons flour and 1 can condensed beef bouillon; cook until blended, then add onions and meat balls. Blend in 1/2 cup dry vermouth and 2 ounces vodka.

Well there you have it folks… the start to another rather interesting week. I think I am gonna go sew me some more totes and other crafts and see what other kind of trouble I can get into! Thanks for stopping in and I hope to see you again tomorrow! HUGS!

MONDAY MORNING MADNESS

Well a big hi there and hello to all my friends. Thanks for stopping in this bright and crazy day! I hope this blog finds you well… happy and healthy. Its been an early start here today as the DD had band sectionals at 6am before school, then coming back and prepping the boys for school, etc. Not sure yet what today is gonna hold in store for me. Yesterday, I have to say, was rather interesting!



I got my strawberry plants put in my custom made hanging basket LOL. That little bucket took a lot more dirt to fill than I thought it would! But I got both my plants in there and its hung up on the rail of the front porch. Isn’t it so cute?!



And what makes it cuter? I have a baby berry on it too! Actually I have a few berries already on it, but this one is the biggest! I got very excited planting yesterday… and for a little while when I was messing with all my plants, I didn’t have a care in the world!



Then I put my Christmas Tree outside too. Yes I have a live baby Christmas tree LOL! It needed some sun and water, etc. Of course I might have to bring all the plants BACK in tonight as we are expecting another stupid freeze! I am getting so sick of this weather, it’s not even funny!



I also brought my rosemary and my Agave plants to the front porch as well. Here you see my rosemary plant. Sadly, I have lost half of the pot, but the other side is going great, surviving the cold VERY well surprisingly! I’m gonna get some more plants and fill the pot back up. Excuse the shoes LOL as I forgot they were on the porch LOL!



Then here is my Agave… or as I joke with my mom… my Tequilla plant LOL! She’s growing great guns, considering she was small when I got her. And now she has at least 4 baby plants as well that I need to separate and repot. The cold seems to have had no effect on that one either. I have some stout plants, let me tell ya! It just makes me more excited to get my gardening underway!

Ok, so as I think about kitties and gardens, and listening to the birds chirping... I’m thinking to nature and as the kids are emptying the milk jugs by eating bowls of cereal, I washed them out. And I’m gonna use them… know how? You can look to Feb. 11th post for a paper milk carton bird feeder, but this time I am using a big plastic gallon jug. Check this out.



Craft Idea of the Day: Milk Jug Bird Feeder

Take a milk jug and cut holes on two sides. Poke holes in bottom for rain drainage, one below each large hole and one on each side of top. Put wire through top holes for hanger and a skewer through side holes for perches. I have painted these and also decoupaged them with fabric. They do very well outside with a finish coat of clear spray paint from Walmart (about a $1 a can.)

Yesterday also was full of kitties! Remember how yesterday, as I sat here writing this blog, I kept hearing the weird noises outside and it turned out to be more baby kitties? Ok so after I was done, we (yes the whole gang LOL) watched kitties all day. Then it hit me! I need a “CAT”-alog of all my outside kitties… and my inside ones too! LOL… so the crazy MEOM I am, I went around taking pictures of all the cats. I made a list of them all, if they have names, etc. I have about 6 more (out of 21… lol not bad) that I need pictures of. I keep records of estimated birthdates, etc… just in case anything happens. Then the coolest thing happened about dusk. I was on the front porch tending to my plants and one of the cats we named R2 came up to me and actually let me pet and play with her! This was ground breaking for the outsiders LOL! She played for about 30 minutes or so… she is a little love hound LOL! When I get all my pictures, I’ll introduce you. Shoot, we still need names for a few of them!

Ok, so its time to munch… but what sounds good? The kids want spaghetti, dad wants steak, and me? Well I think that some Asian Orange Chicken sounds yummy… if my teeth are up for the challenge LOL!



Orange Sauce Chicken

Ingredients

12 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 eggs
1 cup milk
2 cups all-purpose flour
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup bread crumbs
1 cup sliced almonds (optional)
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups orange juice
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

In a small bowl beat together eggs and milk. Add 2 cups flour, salt and pepper. Beat all together until smooth. In a shallow dish or plate mix together the breadcrumbs and almonds. Dip chicken in egg batter, then in breadcrumb mixture.

In a large skillet melt 1 tablespoon butter/margarine and saute coated chicken in skillet 8 to 10 minutes. Place chicken in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish and bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.

To Make Sauce: Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan mix together the sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, cornstarch, and 1 tablespoon flour. Then stir in the orange juice, lemon juice, and 1/2 cup water. Mix all together and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture boils. Let boil for 3 minutes, then remove from heat.

Add 1 tablespoon of butter/margarine, the orange rind and the lemon rind to the orange sauce and stir together. Remove chicken from oven and pour orange sauce over warm chicken or put in a gravy boat for people to pour themselves. Enjoy!

Okie dokie gang… I am gonna go ahead and get off here and see what kind of craziness I can come up with today! Ya’ll be safe and happy out there and I will meet you back here tomorrow! HUGS!

POSITIVE HUMAN INTEREST

Well good morning my wonderful brigade of followers LOL. Hope all is well with all of you this beautiful Sunday morning! I’m just sitting here munching on a roll (cause I woke up with very bad indigestion LOL) and enjoy the quiet because everyone is still asleep. It’s a wonderful sound really… with the exception of the occasional snoring LMAO! Today I want to share something wonderful with you. Most of you know that I don’t watch a whole lot of TV and I certainly don’t watch the news. I like to pick and choose to be depressed thank you LOL. The news is always filled with hate and tragedy and I just don’t like it! Well I was reading some of the headlines from a small local paper called the Galveston Daily News and I found this story…

Rare pink grasshopper Valentine’s gift to museum
By Bronwyn Turner
Correspondent
Published February 20, 2010



Ronnie McLaughlin IV, 7, of Santa Fe, found this pink grasshopper in his yard. It now lives at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, where it will be studied. Photo by Erin Mills, Houston Museum of Natural Science.

SANTA FE — Ronnie McLaughlin IV, a budding entomologist only 7 years old, was routinely searching out crawling creatures when he made a backyard find so rare it will go on display at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

Ronnie found a pink grasshopper on Valentine’s Day. He named the inch-long insect “Love Bug” and placed it in the terrarium in his room.

When his mother, Kelly McLaughlin, contacted the museum, she got an enthusiastic return call from entomologist Erin Mills.

“I was so excited when I heard about them finding a pink grasshopper,” Mills said. “It’s just one of those kind of cool, mysterious things about nature that a lot of scientists don’t quite understand. So it’s a really cool thing to stumble upon around your home.”

Mills, one of two entomologists at the museum, never has seen a pink grasshopper in her years working with insects.

“It’s a genetic mutation where they have not enough of one pigment, or too much of one type of pigment,” she said. “Pink grasshoppers are not totally rare, but they are unusual. It’s kind of lucky if you come across one.”

In the insect containment room, the pink grasshopper was contentedly surveying a meal of romaine lettuce.

She (or he — it’s too soon to tell) already has gone through one molt, which means the young grasshopper is growing.

Mills hopes to surround Love Bug with a stress-free environment, through more molts and, in a few months, adulthood.

She phones the McLaughlins at their Santa Fe home to give updates and is writing a blog on the insect’s progress.

“Anything can happen with a bug,” Mills said. “Probably her biggest challenge right now is making it through all of her molts and getting to be an adult.

“They have to shed a whole skin. It can be a bit touchy.”

Mills has high hopes for Love Bug. The entomologists could follow the example of the Audubon Insectarium in New Orleans where pink katydids (a relative of grasshoppers) have been bred and put on display.

Love Bug would not necessarily have to have a pink mate in order to produce pink offspring.

“There is a possibility those genes could be carried over to the next generation,” Mills said. “I’d like to have pink grasshoppers on display all the time. It would be awesome.”

In the meantime, Ronnie will be on the lookout for another pink sighting. He is autistic, home-schooled as part of an intensive home therapy program. One of his strongest interests is bugs.

“We told her (Mills) we would keep checking our backyard,” said McLaughlin, who also home-schools Ronnie’s younger brother, Connor.

“She said, ‘Who knows? You might have a hot spot.’”

+++

Information

Houston Museum of Natural Science, www.hmns.org, 1 Hermann Circle Drive, Houston, houses several exhibits, including the Brown Hall of Entomology and the Cockrell Butterfly Center. Upcoming events this spring include a butterfly garden plant sale and an Adopt A Butterfly release. To follow Mills’ blog on the pink grasshopper, go to http://blog.hmns.org.

I was so elated to read a positive human-interest story for a change! On top of that, it was positive involving an autistic child. My heart filled with warmth and happiness! It hit close to home because I home-schooled my autistic son a few years back and we used to do such things like incorporating outings into a learning experience/field trip. I felt pride for the mom, but more for the child! I am thinking about taking my kids to the museum to see the pink grasshopper… as my own little “tribute” to Ronnie (the child). We need to see more of these positive things in the news to educate people that autism is not like a “black plague” or a curse to be avoided, but something to be embraced and help these children. And its important to show that they are not stupid like so many people think!

Ok, so I was sitting there at the table looking at all my craft stuff. And since I am not feeling so great, I wanted to not move too much… so what could I do? I got it! I can make some visors… I have foam and fabric, etc. in front of me. So let’s got to town!



Craft Idea of the Day: Fabric Covered Visors (From original post 12-23-09)

You can buy those foam visors at the hobby stores for like a buck or you can make your own at home. You have to make sure the foam is thick/stiff enough to keep form. The visor only requires a small amount of fabric, so it’s a fairly inexpensive craft to make. It’s a great way to use up scraps of material you just can’t bear to throw away! Simply cut a fabric piece in the shape of the visor. You can do both sides, or just one… your choice. I use spray adhesive to attach it to the visor to hold it in place. Then I line the edges with bias tape and sew it on. That’s it… a cute visor in any theme you want!



Pictured is a music one completed… along with about 13 others that have the fabric already glued on. Breast Cancer, sports, autism, you name it… LOL, you could really make one for every outfit you have!

Well it looks like I might finally have to break down and go to the dentist this coming week as this tooth in the back is keeping me in a lot of pain and from eating as well. BUT my glands look swollen as well so I need to get to the doctor first and get that cleared up! Isn’t this fun!? It’s kinda like a sick game of “which hurts worse?” LOL…



Ok, so I am sitting here in the quiet writing my blog right? Well I keep hearing a thumping and other little noises coming from my back porch, so I just stood up and looked out the window and do you know what I see? MORE baby kitties! OMG they are tiny! They are smaller than all the others. Patchlet, which is one of the strays from when I originally moved into this house, must have had her litter under the tarp covering some of the things on the back porch. Well all the thumping and rustling I heard was 2 of the kittens playing and wrestling! They are so cute! With the zoom on my ancient camera, I was able to snap a picture of one as it was jumping around LOL! I saw at least 3 more… which brings the running total of outside kitties to 18! WOW… my pack is growing every day! As a ever-vigilant MEOM LMAO… I have to make sure they are taken care of. So, guess who will be out there in a little while making sure they have plenty of food and water to survive. I don’t care… I love it. LOL.

Now you know what really bites? The fact that I am very hungry and it hurts to eat even soup… but everyone else has to eat So, what do I make them for supper… hmm… this looks delish! Think I’ll make this again for everyone.



Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak

Ingredients

2 pounds lean ground beef
1 (1 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix
1/2 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed low sodium cream of chicken soup
1 (1 ounce) packet dry au jus mix
3/4 cup water

Directions

In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, onion soup mix, bread crumbs, and milk using your hands. Shape into 8 patties.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Dredge the patties in flour just to coat, and quickly brown on both sides in the hot skillet. Place browned patties into the slow cooker stacking alternately like a pyramid. In a medium bowl, mix together the cream of chicken soup, au jus mix, and water. Pour over the meat. Cook on the Low setting for 4 or 5 hours, until ground beef is well done.

Serve this with some mashed potatoes and use the gravy on them, along with a veggie of some kind… YUMMY!!!!! I may try to eat it because I know its so good and just take some Advil to help the pain LOL. It’s worth it! Ok kids, I’mma get off here for the day and go tend to some kitties… then I may lay back down as I’m not feeling too hot still… so until tomorrow… HUGS!

SATURDAY SCATTERBRAIN

Well a big weekend Howdy do to you! Glad you could stop on in partner! LOL… ok so seriously, how are you? Well I feel like hammered… nevermind I won’t finish that LOL! Let’s just say I’m not feeling my best. It’s a bright and early… and somewhat warmer weekend morning here in Texas and I have plans to get a lot done despite my current conditions (plans doesn’t necessarily I will get it done LMAO)! So before I get plans for today, let’s talk yesterday… I really didn’t get too much done in the way of crafting, etc. I was not happy with myself LOL. There was so much going on that I had short spurratic moments of space left to craft and such. I got about 4 toppers/centerpieces completed yesterday.



This is the first one. Remember I told you I had a bunch of other St. Patty’s Day things and would make another topper? Well here he is! Isn’t he precious? I think I like this one better than the other one actually! It also makes me want a bowl of Lucky Charms for breakfast LMAO! Maybe making these will bring me some of the "Luck Of the Irish" LOL!



Then there is my little trick-or-treating Halloween skeleton. I thought it was cute… The skeleton was actually a toy attached to an old straw left over from last years party (it was a new straw so don’t worry LOL). I might go back and add some glitter to the black roses… I’m not sure yet. What do you think?



Here you have my Beach Combers topper. I know living here on the coast, a lot of people have beach theme parties or weddings even! Shoot, one of my brothers got married on the beach! This is made from real shells and I think its just precious. Makes me want to have a beach party now!



And finally the Fiesta one! I was loving the idea of this one, and I knew just what I wanted to do with it. Do you know how nearly impossible it is to find a mini sombrero around here?? OH I was so frustrated. So the kids said “Make one mom”. See my feeble attempt? It sorta looks like a Sombrero on acid to me LOL but its definitely colorful! LOL! Regardless, I kinda like this one a lot too LOL! And the mini maraca actually shakes and makes noise! YAY!



Then I completed some more garden spoons too. Remember the ones I told you I was painting Orange and yellow? Yea, well check out these ones! I made sure the peppers were the actual color that the plant produces… Red Cayenne, Green Jalapeno, and Orange Habanero (also affectionately known as a scotch bonnet too- but that was too long for the spoon handle LMAO)… aren’t they awesome?

So that was my crafts for the day yesterday. I think today I am gonna pull more stuff from the storage unit and start going through it all. Maybe I will find more “junk” to inspire me LOL! OMG now I have to tell you about my kitties! I love cats ok, and I have inside cats and I feed tons of outside stray cats… always have. So anyway I knew that one of the outside females has had a litter of kittens recently… 7 to be exact. Not sure if they are ALL hers but they travel with the mamma, so I’m gonna assume so. Ok, so anyway… yesterday afternoon about 3-4pm I hear this meowing at my front door followed by scratching. I open the door and about 8 cats scatter! Babies too! OMG! I rush to get some dry food out there. They scattered but I left the door open and stepped back in the doorway. They boldly came back up and were not scared of me!



So here you see the first one that came up. My DD and I have named her Harlequin… isn’t she beautiful? And unfortunately I think she is pregnant as well! YIKES more mouths to feed!! There are little tiny babies coming up as well… black and white twins but noticeably different. We are calling them tootsie and roll LOL! There is a white one with markings like one of my mom’s cats, and same demeanor so we are calling him Spazlet LOL!



Ok, so all of the sudden, as we are standing there, all these cats start coming up to the porch to get a bite to eat… A LOT MORE! I say “OMG I’m gonna need a bigger bowl! LOL… so I go to the kitchen and find the lid to an old cake cover (the bottom has cracked) and I put some dry food in it and I mix up a couple of cans of tuna in there. Big mistake… my inside cats start whining LOL so I had to give them their own tuna LMAO! Spoiled little brats! OK, so I get the food out there and they start growling… so I had to split up the food! I step back in the doorway and we had a total of 15 kitties on the porch chowin’ down! I was tickled pink really! I love kitties! A couple of the bigger ones look pregnant so I am really gonna have to be watching closely for newbies and missing kitties… but it looks like I have a whole new gang to feed hanging out at my house LOL!

Ok, so as for today I am hoping the crafting bug comes and bites me hard again. I am so happy when I am crafting. Not only does it make me feel good, but I get stock added to my things to sell and I feel a sense of pride ya know… like I am doing something useful that hopefully someone will want. Its very validating to me sometimes (when I’m in a weird mood LOL) when someone buys my things… it means they like it and I did a good job. I know weird… of course none of you will ever buy my things dangit LMAO because I am teaching you how to make them all! LMAO… just kidding… I thought it was rather amusing. So if the craft bug doesn’t hit me, then I hope to get some things out of storage and start housing them here in my home. I am giving myself until May 1st to get that storage unit cleaned out and that bill eliminated. So I will keep you posted on how that’s going!

OK so we have to eat right? Well since I am not feeling very spiffy and I’m really not in the “full out cooking mood” I think we are gonna have some Nachos for dinner! YAY! Nachos sounds real yummy with some chili and beans and cheese and yummmmm lots of peppers! But I always share a recipe with you, so here is something yummy for you today.



Tropical Grilled Pork Chops

Ingredients

1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 pod cardamom seeds
1/2 teaspoon water, or as needed
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
1 mango - peeled, seeded and chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cilantro
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 fresh jalapeno pepper, minced
1 1/2 cups unsweetened applesauce
3 pineapple rings, chopped
1 pinch white pepper
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup rice wine vinegar
6 pork chops

Directions

With a mortar and pestle, mash together the garlic, chili powder, cayenne, and cardamom seeds. Mix in enough water to form a paste.

Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in spice paste, and cook until it begins to bubble, about 30 seconds. Stir in vinegar; cook without boiling for 2 minutes. Stir in sugar until it dissolves. Mix in mango, salt, cilantro, lemon juice, and jalapeno; simmer 20 minutes. Stir in applesauce and pineapple; simmer 10 minutes more. Season with white pepper. Place in a bowl, cover, and refrigerate until ready to use.

To prepare marinade, mix 2/3 cup of the salsa with soy sauce and 1/3 cup vinegar. Place pork chops in a large resealable plastic bag, and pour marinade over chops. Seal tightly, and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

Prepare grill for medium-high heat. Drain marinade from bag, and heat in a saucepan until boiling.
Lightly oil grill grate. Place pork chops on the hot grill. Cook 10 minutes, or to desired doneness, turning once and basting occasionally with the boiled marinade.

Warm remaining salsa over medium-low heat. Serve pork chops topped with the salsa.

Well alrighty my little rodeo readers LOL… its time for me to get up on my horse and ride off into the sunset LOL… so I’ll meet ya back at this here barnyard tomorrow at the same time ya here? LOL YEEHAW!! Until tomorrow… HUGS!