Another Garage Sale Find

Amanda and Paul really were here this weekend even though the only picture we have is the "birthday pose". It was so fun to have them even though it felt like they just got here and then they were gone!

Amanda and I went garage saleing on Friday and we went again Saturday along with Heidi and Larissa. The only purchase made on Friday was a Travel System that Amanda bought. A very nice stroller/carseat combination. And then Saturday's only purchase was this wicker set by me. The guy had $20 on the love seat and $20 on the set of chairs. I was looking at the love seat thinking I could paint it and make a new cushion for it. I was thinking about it as I wandered through the garage. I went back to look at the love seat again and he had put a $10 sign on it. I said, "You marked this down to $10?" He nodded. I said, "For that price, I can't pass it up, I'll take it." He said, "You can have all of it for $10." So I guess I got each piece for $3.33!! Of course I have a project to do now.

Happy belated birthday Jeff

Meet Oscar

Molly bought this hamster with four of her friends. They each will have it every five weeks. Sunday she will pass it on to the next owner. I'm wondering if it will actually make it back here in five weeks......

Herbed Pork Roast

Jen made this one year for my birthday and it has become a favorite over here. We don't add the mushrooms to the pork loin. Instead I strain the drippings and make a gravy and add the sauted mushrooms to the gravy. It is unbelievably good! (No, I'm not making it tonight. We are have Berry Stuffed French Toast and sausages for supper.)

HERBED PORK ROAST

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.

Yield 8-10 servings

Garage Sale Find

I was happy to find these two lounges at a garage sale for $5 each. We have several chairs with this wide heavy strapping. We were just commenting last week how tough these chairs are. The chairs we have are not loungers but we have had them close to 20 years. In fact Fred had just told me that if I ever find any chairs like them to buy them. I scrubbed them up today and we will enjoy them next summer.

Did you know our dog can read?

At least Kaitlin must think so. I ran up to make sure all the doors were shut before I take off and saw this note on Kaitlin's door, at Maggie's eye level.......She got in her room a couple of times and tore her garbage up. (She shut the door when she left for school but I think a certain little sister went in there to use hair stuff and forgot to shut it.)

Talking about the dog.......I think she has been really sneaky........I thought she was "trained" not to go on the furniture. Well twice now when I came home she was sleeping ON THE FOOT REST OF MY CHAIR!

Pools Still Open

The pools still open. Mainly because we haven't got around to closing it. Danny decided to swim last night after I gave him a haircut. He wanted a haircut like an "army guy". I buzzed him with a #2 on the bottom and a # 3 on top. He was pleased. "I look like a army dye. I'm going to be in the army when I grow up." (That's a new one!) The water was pretty chilly but he said, "The water feels great!" I felt it and said it was "freezing". He said, "so, I just nore it". I also told him that his goggles were upside down but he said he didn't "tare".

Need Parts?

If anyone ever needs parts for an appliance I'd recommend trying RepairClinic.com. That's where we ordered the timer for our washing machine.

Unfortunately, it was the wrong part. I was sick when Fred told me the machine still didn't work. I thought I had just thrown away $160.00. Then he looked on the receipt and it said you can return parts. THEN he noticed the address was in Canton. I called them and found out they in fact have a storefront and I could return the part I had ordered online at the store. Friday night Fred was not able to figure out what actually was wrong. He woke up for work Saturday morning and said the more he thinks about it, he THINKS it is the controller assembly. So I trucked the hour down to Canton in the pouring rain with my fingers crossed. I was hopeful when the guy at Repair Clinic said that he has seen a lot of controller assemblies going out the door and it must be a common problem......

Fred installed it and I now have a working washing machine!!! I was fine until Friday night when the part didn't work. Then the panic set in looking at the mounds and mounds of dirty laundry!! The washing machine is getting a work out today! We have ordered parts from RepairClinic.com before. They have a very user friendly website that pictures all the parts. I have a front loader Kenmore washing machine so I was happy to spend only $120.00 for a part instead of start looking for a new machine.

Washing Machine and Pasty

I've been without a washing machine since Monday. So I haven't washed clothes since Saturday. I'm actually quite amazed at the calmness of my family! A couple of them may be on their last pair of underwear but they all managed to find clean clothes, even today! Dad thinks it's the timer and it arrived today! I got a little worried when I pulled out the manual and realized the machine is 8.5 years old. That seems to be the average life expectancy of most appliances these days. Hopefully this is the right part and will keep the machine going a few more years.

Today was pasty day. I had orders for 83 so that left me with 8 left, just enough for dinner tonight. I'd like to start making them twice a month but in order to do that I need to expand my customer base. I spent so many years solicting business when I was with the Pampered Chef that I have a hard time doing so now. So all you local bloggers....if you know any single guys, elder people, busy mom's.....I guess anybody.......that might be interested in ordering pasties, send them my way. I charge $3.50 per pasty. I'll be making them again in 2-3 weeks. Sooner if I get enough orders before then.

Dan and The Library

Danny begs almost daily to go to the local library. He is pretty independent once we are there. He goes off to find his books and I go find mine. We often get a laugh at some of his choices. He has been big time into exercising for months now. I love it and encourage it. The kids laugh at him because he may hold a yoga pose for 1.5 seconds and then move on to the next but I love it because he is "moving". Everyday I can hear him upstairs jumping around. Obesity can be a problem with Down Syndrome kids. Danny has not ever had a weight problem but I worry as he gets older he may so I hope he keeps up this love of exercising and "getting in shape".

It looks like this week he is into Sea Life. He knows how to look up on the library computer "search" to find a book by subject. He reads at about a second grade level. The biggest problem is he comprehends better if he reads out loud which can be a bit annoying but I try to put up with it as being able to read is the biggest step to helping him have independence as he becomes an adult.

This is Danny's library stash from yesterday:

It's all about exercise......he's not concerned about age or
gender.......

Garden's Bounty

I was pumped to be able to freeze my first bag of raspberries and make a batch of salsa yesterday. It is such a treat to have raspberry pie for Thanksgiving or anytime in the winter! The salsa is from a mix. You add a package of Mrs. Wage's salsa mix to your tomatoes. The kids like it. Dad has been making some fresh salsa, which I think is better. The nice thing about this salsa mix is that you can freeze it so it makes it much easier than canning it.The school year seems to be going good so far. I had a little issue with Danny and lunch. I took him out of the sex-ed class he is suppose to be taking and they put him in art class. It's a split class with lunch in the middle. Twice he came home with his lunch I had packed in his backpack. He had been buying, using his lunch account. He insisted that he couldn't go to his locker to get his lunch. AND that he wanted to go to lunch "with his friends". I think there is at least one boy from church in his art and he likes to eat with him. I tried to tell him to tell this boy to save him a seat while he goes get his lunch but he wouldn't do that. His teacher called one day to say that the aide saw Danny's lunch in his locker at the end of the day. I explained what was going on and she said she would see if he could bring his lunch to art. The next day I received a note saying there was a shelf in the art room where Danny could put his lunch so he could go straight to lunch from art! So once again our school has pulled through for Danny!!! I just hope "his friends" appreciate it as much as he does!

Raspberries!

The raspberries are coming. It took me almost a week to save enough to make my first baked raspberry pie. It's still pretty much every other day picking but in about a week I should be picking daily. It looks like I may have a better crop this year than last. It's a toss up between the raspberries and rhubarb as to my favorite baked treat! I'm thankful to have both growing in my yard!
I'll post my "re-vamped" Raspberry Pie recipe. Taste of Home magazine "tweaked" the one Emily sent them and I have to say, I think they even made it better! (or it could be that the first raspberry pie of the year is always the best!)

Fresh Raspberry Pie

2 cups flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup shortening
1 egg, beaten
3 tablespoons cold water
1 tablespoon white vinegar

FILLING:
1 1/3 cups sugar
2 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca
2 tablespoons cornstarch
5 cups fresh or frozen unsweetened raspberries, thawed
1 tablespoon butter

TOPPING:
1 tablespoon milk
1 tablespoon sugar

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar and salt, cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Combine the egg, water and vinegar; stir into flour mixture just until moistened. Divide dough in half so that one ball is slightly larger than the other, wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 30 minutes until easy to handle. (I don't do this....refrigerate.)

Meanwhile, in another large bowl, combine the sugar, tapioca, conrnstarch and raspberrries; let stand for 15 minutes. (I also don't wait on this. I just combine and then dump in crust.)

Roll out larger ball of dough and put in 9-inch pie pan. Add raspberry filling and dot with butter. Roll out remaining ball of dough and place over filling. Trim, seal and flute edges. Cut slits in top and brush with milk; sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool on a wire rack.

Jeanie's Haircut

Jeanie said Jennifer is waiting to see her haircut. And since she stated on the last post: MOM GOTS PICTURES OF IT THAT SHE IS GOING TO PUT ON HER BLOG VERY SOON! P.S.AT LEST I HOPE SO! I better put them on.

Back To School

First day of school! These pictures didn't come out too clear. Plus I had to crop Jeanie's as her first and last name were showing on her back pack. The middle/high school bus was 30 minutes late and the elementary bus was 5 minutes early!

Now what to do?......clean?sew?pick raspberries?exercise?wash windows?paint?........Actually after I do a few things on this computer, I think I will organize the old toy room into a sewing room and get started on a couple of aprons.

The kids were all pretty excited for school. I think even the big ones, although they probably wouldn't admit it. A couple days ago if you asked Danny if he was excited for school he would cover his ears and say, "No! It's not even in my vocabulary!" But this morning he kept saying, "I'm so excited!!!" Hopefully we're off to a good year!

Apple Pie Slices

This is my Mom's recipe. It is one of my favorite apple desserts. Served warm with ice cream.....(I refrigerate the leftovers and then "sliver" it the next day cold out of the fridge! For some reason if you eat a row of "slivers" all day, it doesn't seem like it's as many calories as if you would eat a whole row in one sitting.) I don't have measurements for some of the ingredients. I just cover the crust with the rice crispies. Then I use my Apple/Peeler/Corer/Slicer to slice the apples and layer then to the top of the pan. Then I generously sprinkle cinnamon over the apples and quite a bit of sugar. (Maybe a cup?...)

APPLE PIE SLICES

2 1/2 cups flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup shortening
1 egg
2/3 cup milk
rice crispies, corn flakes or wheaties
apples
cinnamon and sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons water

Mix flour, sugar and salt and then cut in 1 cup shortening. Beat 1 egg yolk. (save white)
Put in cup and add enough milk to make 2/3 cup. Add to flour mixture. Divide dough in half. Roll dough to fit cookie sheet. Cover with corn flakes, rice crispies or wheaties. Put apples on top. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Put other half on top. Brush with beaten egg white. Bake 350 degrees for 1 hour. When warm, glaze with 1 cup powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of water.