Passing Down the Job

Lawn mowing has pretty much been a "boys" job in this family. With five of them, there has always been one around to do the job WHEN Fred doesn't do it. Fred actually enjoys mowing the lawn when he has time. Since Fred was staining the trim and porch posts Saturday, he needed someone to mow. Brett is just getting TOO busy with all his football games to listen or watch so he gave Gretchen a mowing instruction. I think she kind of likes to mow but is a little afraid that she will always HAVE to mow now!

Danny story: He had gone to bed the other night and I heard him in the bathroom running water and moaning and complaining. I hollered up to find out what was going on. He grumbled and groaned, "I have the hicups!" He went back to bed and was moaning some more, then it was quiet, all of a sudden I hear, "Rarrrrrrrrr!!!!" (He was trying to scare himself!) Then he starts whining, "Someone come scare me........" He finally came down saying, "I know....I'll drink a glass of milk (his favorite beverage!) He took a glass of milk and they actually went away. He was grinning as he went back up stairs, "See!!!!! Told you!!!"

Little Will

I didn't realize I haven't posted since Sunday. I guess it's been a busy week. I had knitting ladies over on Wednesday so I was kind of busy Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday I was busy with the knitting ladies and yesterday, Lynette and I went garage saleing. Didn't find a whole lot but did get Danny three pair of windpants and they actually fit him. Then we went to Panera Bread for lunch. While we were eating I got a big idea. I told Lynette that maybe this is what I should do for Heidi's wedding. Serve soup and salad. Interesting thought......Not sure if it would work though. Tonight I am having all the local kids home for supper. I'm making Jennifer's recipe of Herbed Pork Loin. Recipe below. It is very, very good.

A Jeanie story: The other day we were driving into Wal-mart parking lot and she pipes up: "If I was stuck on an island and could have only one thing, you know what I'd have?" I said, "No, what would it be?" "A Wal-mart" she replies. Pretty good thinking!

Herbed Pork Loin

1 boneless pork loin roast (3 1/2-4 pds)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup ketchup
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 teaspoon ground mustard
1/4 teaspoon each dried marjoram, thyme and rosemary, crushed
2 large onions, sliced
1 bay leaf
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced and sauted

In Dutch oven coated with nonstick cooking spray, brown roast over medium heat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Combine water, broth, ketchup, garlic and seasonings; pour over roast. Add onions and bay leaf. Cover and simmer over medium heat for 1 1/2 hours or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees. Add mushrooms; heat through. Discard bay leaf. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with onions and mushrooms. Thicken pan drippings for gravy if desired.

Book Worm

Danny loves to empty the book cupboard with a big pile of books. This time he PROMISED me he would put them all back when he's done........

Friday afternoon I received a call from Danny's teacher. She said the first two weeks of school Danny did great but that this week he doesn't want to listen. When it comes time to do journals, he refuses to write. He just puts his head down. She said she tried to tell him that he can't put his head down in middle school, that he has to do his work. She then asked me if this is something new? Unfortunately, I had to tell her it was not new. And that he can be a real "bonehead!" I know his teacher had trouble with him at times last year and I'm not sure how she handled it. I also told her that he hates to write. I think it is hard for him to come up with ideas and if something is hard, he doesn't want to try! So since journals are hard he just gives up. Of course, he can't not do it. So I told her we would have a "talk" with him and his Dad would have a little talk to remind him that he HAS to listen to the teacher and do whatever she says. I think it will help for awhile. I told her to keep me informed. Both when he is good and if he gives her trouble. Praise goes a long way and if I find out he's been cooperating for a few days, I will praise him and reward him with something like a trip to the library. (His most favorite place to go.) She did say that he is a great reader, infact he has the highest reading level in the class, which is pretty good considering there are sixth, seventh and eighth graders in his class. He has had a love of books since he was very little and it seems to be paying off!

Newlyweds

The Newlyweds are back. It's a good thing they have the weekend to try acclimate from the 6 hour jet lag. Getting up at 6:30 Monday morning will feel like a little after midnight to them!

We went to their apartment last night to watch them open their wedding gifts. It sure is nice to have married kids living here!

flylady.net

A lot of you may be familiar with the flylady.net site. I hadn't checked my flylady emails all summer and had to delete about 4800 of them. I have a separate yahoo email address for them alone as you may receive 5 a day. If you need help getting your life organized, she has the perfect tools! I was pleasantly surprised to see she now has a "Riley Challenge" most days. This is for your kids. I have never been real good about getting my kids to do the work they should. I think this "Riley Challenge" will work great with my two youngest. Here is one challenge:

It's time for the Riley Challenge of the Day!!

We are taking a walk! Let's take a walk through our houses and find 10 things that belong in our rooms and put them away. If you have left any shoes, jackets, school things, toys or books lying around the house now is the time to return them to their home. When you leave your things around the house, it makes the house look messy. Let's grab up the things that belong in our rooms and take them there.

I am willing to bet that Mom or Dad will be so surprised and so proudof you!

Have Fun!

Another good idea she had was the "Tomorrow Drawer". It can be an empty drawer, basket or whatever. In this drawer they put all the clothes they will need in the morning including socks, belt, etc. This is in addition to a "launch pad" - A certain area where they put their backpacks, shoes, jackets....anything they need for school in the morning. The same place everyday. No more last minute looking for shoes, glasses, homework, etc. I'm thinking Danny will "get into" the Tomorrow Drawer. He may even come down already dressed in the morning!

Keegan James

I had to stop by this little guys house yesterday so I snapped a couple pictures for his grandma but thought I'd share. Everyone enjoys a beautiful baby! This is Tim and Kate's little guy.

I'm going for lunch with my sisters today. Hopefully I'll have a productive morning before I go.

Brothers

A couple brothers and a great-granddaughter.

As you can see from my book reading on the right, I recently finished a book by Sara Donati. It's her fifth book and all her books are part of a series. I really, really have enjoyed them and recommend them as a good read. They are historical fiction with a lot of Native American history in it. Her first book is "Into the Wilderness". I did an extreme amount of reading this summer but now with fall and routine, that will slow down. I will probably listen to more audio books as I can do that while I do other things. I have also enjoy several Anne River Siddens books. I've mostly listened to them on tape.

Satisfaction!

Saturday afternoon I spent the day in the kitchen. (Gretchen grumbled as I was getting her "just scrubbed floor" full of flour!) I do love baking. Saturday evening once all the mess was cleaned up I almost forgot my aching legs and feet when I would look at my days accomplishment. THIS year for sure I'm going to do more Christmas baking. I say that every year and never seem to find the time to do what I really would like.

This week I'm cleaning and purging! Why is it so hard to get rid of "junk"? I cleaned the boys room yesterday and there were a few things I hesitated on and then I thought "next week I'll never even remember this" and tossed it. I hope to hit the bathroom closet, coat closet and "office" today. I think I will do the "two step" with the bathroom closet. Things I hesitate about tossing, I'll box up and put in the basement. Then in about a year when I got through stuff in the basement, I may find it easier to toss.

Emily, I'm almost done with your bag. I hope to shrink it today. I did the exact pattern as Heidi's but it seems smaller. I REALLY like it, so if you don't, be honest and let me know because I would have no problem keeping it. :) I do still have to knit the belt.

Birthday Picture

Here's my birthday picture Karen took. Thanks again ladies, it was really fun! The cake was the best ever! Val P. made it and her poor mom dropped it off and had to leave as she had sick kids. Seriously, it was chocolate cake with cream filling and it was such a moist and delicious cake!!! Thank you Val.

"We're Getting Married!"

We have another wedding! Heidi and Jeff got engaged tonight. They are looking at March 29th for their wedding date! Here I thought I had nothing to post today so I took pictures of my bread, nisua, jam and Chocolate Raspberry Pie I made today. If all else fails you can always post food! But Heidi and Jeff gave me something much more exciting to post! It will be fun to plan another wedding!

Pasties Anyone?

I'm making pasties again this fall. I only made one batch and then got a phone order for another 10 pasties so unfortunately I only have six left for supper. If it was a couple months from now that would be okay as the kids get quite sick of them. Being this is the first time I've made them since May, everyone will want one. I guess we'll just have to split a couple of them in half. I probably won't make them every Friday. Maybe every other or third depending on orders. I sell them for $3.50 each.

Before.....

I'm going to try my hand at salsa as my tomatoes are coming. I couldn't find the Mrs. Wages Salsa Mix so I will try to make some without a recipe. With the mix, all you have to do is add the tomatoes. My sister Sarah makes it that way and it is very good. I am going to throw in different types of tomatoes, green peppers, onions and several different hot peppers and see what I get!

My raspberries are starting to come. I couldn't get a clear close up picture. I may have enough to make a Chocolate Raspberry Pie so we will see if that gets made.

Yesterday Laura L. had a surprise belated 50th birthday party for me with my sisters and the knitting ladies. I was surprised. Karen took a picture but her computer is down so I can't post it. Now I have several different candies (50 of each) to help me stay on my diet!

Random Wedding Pictures

Brad and Larissa's Wedding

It came and now it's all over already! The wedding and weekend was so fun but quick. We got there about 3:00 Friday and left Sunday morning. The weather was the best. They got lots of outdoor pictures. Cindy took them at a park on a lake. I'm anxious to see them. Will post more random pictures later.

3 More Days til Brad & Larissa's Wedding

It's hard to believe Brad & Larissa's wedding is here! We're almost ready. My dress came TODAY. I guess it will work. I like the dress, I like the fit, I'm just not real sure about the color...........It's called "Sea". Kind of the color of a greenish, blueish ocean. I'm afraid it washes me out. Oh well, all eyes will be focused on the bride, right?! I also went and got my haircut. I never got around to calling anyone to make an appointment so I ran to a walk-in place today. Unfortunately I got an old lady that doesn't understand what "longer layers" meant. I have pretty micro-short hair.(again) I don't really mind it too, too much but since I HAD the length, I thought I'd go with longer layers as I usually DON'T have the length! Plus, I only have ONE day to figure out what to do with it!

The first day of school went well for everyone. The bus rides were pretty long. Hopefully today they will be better. Jeanie didn't get home until 5:45! There were quite a few mishaps on her bus. A bunch of wrong kids were on it so they had to wait in a church parking lot for another bus. Plus they went through a "modular home park" three times as there were several kindergarteners who didn't know their stops and no parents were out waiting for them. She should be getting home around 5:00 which is bad enough. The middle and high schoolers didn't get home until 3:40 but hopefully it will be a bit sooner today. Next week the twins plan on riding with Brett to school. They will get there an hour early(7:15) but they will be able to sleep a half hour longer! Go figure. Right now they get bussed to the middle school and then take a transfer bus to the high school. They get picked up at 6:35 and the high school starts at 8:05! There are a lot of "happy" people with the bussing situation!

First Day of School

Back to school! I was surprised that Danny wasn't too nervous this morning. When ever he would talk about going to middle school he always said, "I'm nervous". He went just fine this morning. The girls posed for a "first day of school" picture with Danny. This is the first time they've had one taken since elementary. Jeanie was quite nervous as this is the first year she won't have any siblings transferring with her. She had me ask the bus driver, who is new this year, what transfer bus she takes to SW. The bus driver assured her that she will walk her to her transfer bus once all the kids empty the bus. She was relieved to hear that!

Now.......what to do today?.......maybe......make bread........make salsa........wash all bedding from my bed.......make blueberry muffins for the kids breakfast........clean corner cupboard........deep clean and rearrange living room.............Hopefully, all of the above. My doctor put me on iron pills as I was anemic. I told her I didn't feel tired but she said it comes on gradually that I may be surprised at my energy once I'm on the pills for awhile. I'm starting to believe her. Although I wasn't feeling tired I wasn't very ambitous and lately I have found some ambition!!

Tornado

This is the roof of the garage that Jim was salvaging to make a shed to store his tools. It was quite a project for these guys to move. It was originally sitting partly on that wall on the ground and partly on the hill. They eventally got it off the hill and on to the driveway. They then enclosed it and repaired the roof so it is sound. That garage wall laying on the ground is the only garage wall that got left. The rest of the walls were taken by the tornado and are just gone!!!
The tornado did havoc to the pool area. This picture was taken after a lot of the debris was already cleaned up.
I'm not sure this picture shows the devastation of all these trees. There is a field behind the trees that you can see clearly from the kitchen window. Before the storm you didn't even know it was there.
I wish I (or Gretchen as these are her pictures) would have taken a better picture of that cord in the corner. It goes to a lamp that was clamped to Chandra's bed. Ann said it was still plugged in but the light was hanging out the window. But the weirdest thing is part of the plug is between the wall and floor yet the wall or floor doesn't look disturbed in that corner.