Blackberries and Raspberries: Power Foods

Blackberries and Raspberries: Power Foods

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Book reviews and using up old ribbon

I wrote another book review yesterday. While on my mission for a simpler holiday, I found one more way to use up leftover ribbon - making gift tags with them. If you get the chance, check out the book reviews in the sidebar of my blog.

Freezing Sweet Corn

Whew! After enlisting the help from 4 of the kids, we froze 32 cups of sweet corn. I bought a bushel for $12.00 and we are still having corn for dinner tonight. And after all of that, we still have corn to clean, cut and freeze tomorrow. My freezer is filling up for winter and it sure feels good to have good, healthy food. Maybe next year we will grow better corn. My husband's job was to plan the corn this year and only one stalk grew.

Kids and Watching the Sunrise ~ Preparing a child for Middle School

When our oldest daughter found out that I wrote about the younger two (on my blog), she attempted to get up early this morning. She set her alarm clock to join the other girls to watch the sunrise this morning.

I'm not surprised, but all of them slept in. Either way it didn't matter. It's raining and very cloudy today. Thank goodness we are getting rain. The vegetable, herb, and flower gardens needed water badly.

Already this morning, my 12 year old is making a dog leash with her macrame board. It's wonderful to see each child find something to improve themselves with. I may even make a second macrame board for myself.

I learned something from my oldest daughter, regarding preparing our 10 year old for middle school. Buying her a bra had not been on my mind, but new socks and underwear were. She advised me that in Middle School the girls all change for gym in the same room, where everyone can see every one's everything. She let me know I should buy some training bras to ease that situation and help her feel less awkward in during physical education. With so many children going in so many directions, it was definitely helpful to get this information. Hopefully it will help other parents sending their daughter's into Middle School for the first time.

Sunrise, Vegetables, and Working Out

This morning I was stunned to see two of my daughters up before me. They were sitting outside waiting to watch the sunrise. My son, who already started school was out there also, but his bus picked him up before the sun was up.

I wrote a somewhat funny and very true story about parking spaces on www.helium.com. It was from my mother's view, and if you happen to go to helium and read it, she now has a handicapped sticker (thank goodness). Note: I'm moving this article on helium to another category. I'll post when I have the link.

Tonight we are benefiting from the vegetable garden once again. I pulled several zucchini so we can make another quadruple batch of zucchini pancakes, I pulled several tomatoes, which will be added to our ground turkey burgers, I pulled two acorn squash, and 2 cantaloupe. Since we do not water our garden ourselves, some items are smaller, but I'm so glad we don't use chemicals of any sort to grow it.

Tomorrow I'll be pulling more turnips and beets. I sure hope it rains though. We really do need more rain.

We have benefited from the garden so much. It's lowered our cost, provided healthy meals, and is helping us all lose weight. On July 26th I measured my upper arms, waist and thighs. I just measured them, and I have lost 1/8th inch on each arm, 1 inch off of my waist, and 1/2 inch on each thigh. I've also kept off 15 pounds (approximately). I am really going to miss the garden, but look forward to canning next year. I may buy a bushel of corn from a farmer, blanch it and freeze it for the winter months.

Speaking of winter coming, I have rearranged the front room furniture so nothing is near the wood burning stove. We've cleaned under the furniture, and will be washing the curtains soon too. It feels good to have all of that done already.

My current project, along with the last pair of crocheted slippers, is a reusable crocheted shopping bag. My 12 year just made herself a macrame board and is starting to make handmade gifts for the holidays as well. I'm finding many useful patterns at the local library.

Kittens, Chaos, and School Fees

Well, it's come to the point where we are needing to make a decision. One or both of the kittens killed the goldfish last night, one messed on the floor, and both of them destroyed my room last night. Evidently they think it's the main playground for their rambunctious lives. I know they would both be good mousers, even though they are males. The seek to destroy.

The girls are already outside giving poor "Caspian" a proper funeral. Cat claw marks are evident on the poor little guys sides.

Today I have the joy of paying $105.00 in school fees for 3 kids. Plus, I get the joy of paying a student fee for my son, who does not even attend the school. He's bussed to a career center school, but because we are in this school's district, I am required to pay a $7.00 student fee and a $1.00 guidance fee. Evidently, some of it goes to pay for the prom. I had no idea that, we the parents, are paying for that.

The kids have now managed to destroy the PS3. It's probably a good thing, now that school is starting. It is way to expensive to replace it, so if they want a new one, they need to find a job and buy it themselves. The best part is that I don't' have to worry about it monopolizing their free time. Now they can find more time to be creative and spend more time applying for jobs.

Free School Resources for Parents - Making School Fun!

Encourage your kids in school with printable certificates you can print at home:

Free Printable Certificates

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