Showing posts with label Homemade. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Homemade. Show all posts

Thursday, September 30, 2010

BEAUTIFUL FALL



A hot dish of golden potatoes, left-over franks, real butter, and home-grown chives served with crusty whole-wheat bread…



A peek-a-boo boy…



Transitioning from bike to car for the upcoming cold winds and icy roads…



The beginning of THE FAMILY SEASON…



The last weeks of cool clear water…Before it turns in to beautiful crystallized ice…



A beginning of the SEASON OF HOLIDAYS! The time for celebration, family, rejoicing, and a time to turn our hearts to He who created this beautiful Earth…He, to whom we own our thanks for the blessings that we enjoy…



A time of service…Extra special service to those we love and to those who just need a smile...Or a friend...Or a warm plate of cookies....



FALL…

A time of harvest…



And long walks amongst the trees and falling leaves…





FALL…

A time to bring the outside goodness into our homes…



To smell the scents of autumn sweetness...



Which will then carry us into the upcoming season of the deliciousness of apples and cinnamon…



Mulberries and roasted turkeys…



Have a blessed weekend…And search for the beauty around you.

Monday, March 29, 2010

TWO CANDLES FROM ONE



You know when your candle gets down toward the bottom, and it’s looking less than what you would like to display?

Well…There is a frugal AND fun way to save on candles…

I always save my wax and then when I’m ready, I will melt a couple of candles and make one whole new one…

Put your mostly-used candle jars in a pot of water and turn on medium or medium-low…Do not let it boil…

You may want to use old pots, as wax invariably gets in them...

It may take a couple of hours depending on how much wax you have to melt…



You will probably have to add a new wick to the new candle…Wicks and wick holders can be purchased inexpensively at a craft store such as Michaels…

Once the wax is melted in both jars, pour one into the other…Making a complete candle…

Or…

You may use a clean third jar, adding both jars of melted wax to it…

The fun of combinging candles is not only the good feeling it gives you in saving rather than throwing but also the new scent that you have created!

Most recently, I combined a mango and peach for a lovely aroma. You can also do layers, but wait for each one to set before pouring the next layer.



When I was finished, I ended up with a brand new large-sized candle (not pictured) and had enough wax left over to make a small one to set in the kitchen…

It is a light peach color and smells yummy!

One note to watch for is that they tend to settle and funnel…Sometimes I am able to overcome this by pouring in layers and allowing to fully cool before adding the next layer. I haven’t gotten it fool-proof yet, however, so if anyone has any tips, I would be glad to hear them.

I love Salt City candles…This where the wax and jars were from…

As they can be rather spendy, the money savings is wonderful!

As you can see, this candle still needs a bit of cleaning up and the wick trimmed...



The full-sized candle that I made would sell for about $21.95, and the small one would go for around $12.00…So, that is a savings of $34…

Creativity melded with thrift makes for a few hours of satisfaction and fun!

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

BITS AND PIECES



HOMEMADE…KID-MADE…RECYCLED SNOWMAN



I love homemade things…especially the little people homemade things…

And, the best part…He made it out things that were going to be thrown away…Mama’s teachin’ him well!

And...recycled paper-towel people...Gramma and Julian are on the left. Oh, how so adorable!



BABIES...ALWAYS BABIES...WOULDN'T THE WORLD SIMPLY STOP WITHOUT THEM? I AM QUITE SURE THAT IT WOULD...



UNCLES AND NEPHEWS...A NEVER-ENDING-GENERTION-TO-GENERATION FUN TIME...









SOME GOOD CLEAN AND WHOLESOME MUSIC TO SING WITH THE LITTLE ONES



BABY CHRISTIAN LIKES TO HELP WHENEVER HE CAN



AND FOR GAMES...WELL, WE HAVE THE EVER FAMOUS NOAH'S ARK!



AND THEN...ON A BIT MORE SECULAR LEVEL...DON'T EAT SPIDEY!



RECIPES...

HOMEMADE FOOT SCRUB



A couple of years back, I was pulled in by a Christmas-time kiosk at the mall…They had Dead Sea foot scrub…In Lemon, nonetheless! It was really nummy-smelling and was nice to use in the shower…

Well, I ran out recently…It lasts a long time…So, I decided to make my own…It’s much cheaper that way…

Vegetable Glycerin (Or a carrier oil such as sweet almond)
Scented oil of your choice…I happened to have Lemon on hand…I love the refreshing smell!
Sea salt…I got this at the health food store…This particular salt is Celtic sea salt


That’s it…Just mix it up, and you have your own homemade foot scrub! As sea salt isn’t white, this has a bit of a gray color to it. One could put in food coloring, but I chose to leave mine au naturel.

CROCK-POT DINNER...LEMON DILL CHICKEN



This chicken is oh so juicy!

4 Skinless boneless chicken breasts
Chicken bouillon to taste
Lemon juice to taste
Dill leaves
Green onions


I don’t measure…Just put in the amount of each ingredient that you think you will like. I love dill and lemon both so was generous with them. I had green onions that needed to be used up, but you can use yellow if that’s what you have.

Fry cut-up green onions (I use the stalks as well…They’re like chives) in real butter
Layer chicken breasts in crock-pot
Add onions, bouillon, dill, and water to cover

Let simmer on Low all day long, and you will have Mmmm…Mmmm goodness for dinner time!

Take out the chicken breasts with slotted spoon and serve with cottage cheese and fresh carrots. The stock can be saved in the freezer for soup.





AFTER-WORK ACHIEVEMENTS

Insurance claims processed
Dinner checked on
Cats—watered, litter cleaned
Bills
Emptied shredder and swept
RXs ordered
Washed dog’s bedding
Cleaned vanity, sink, and mirror in bedroom
Took a load up to the attic and one load down
Ordered health tea

Many small achievements make for one large feeling of accomplishment!

Saturday, January 9, 2010

HAPPY SATURDAY



One of my goals this year is to Quit whining and just do. Well, a couple of days ago, I received an email from a co-worker, which was a blessing to me that day.



"May today there be peace within you. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us."




As I have so desired a certain profession and due to different reasons have not been able to pursue it, I have, instead, gone down a different path. I did not go looking for this path; it came to me. Indeed, the Lord put it in front of me; he offered it to me. It was very strange how it all came about. Being human, though, I have still wanted—in conjunction with what I am currently doing—to pursue that occupational goal that I have. I just keep ruminating on it and not giving up. Well, I AM exactly where I need to be at this point in time. There ARE possibilities in what I am doing that are born of faith and prayer. The Lord has given me gifts, for which I am ever grateful, that I am passing on. I am getting paid to do this as well; what a benefit! So, thank you Michelle for this awesome quote sent to me today! It served me well.

SOME OF THE THINGS I LOVE…

GRAMMA...She is the most organized person I have ever met in my life--Another great example to me for my get-more-organized goal...She is fast, efficient, ever-hard-working, extremely clean (as well as her house, of course), and she LOVES to have company. If something gets messed up...like the time my daughter spilled grape juice on her cream-colored living room carpeting!), she says, “It’s o.k. we’ll clean it up”, and it’s over! Or, one of the times (there have been more than one) that someone broke her window by playing catch outside, it’s no big deal…”That’s o.k., we’ll fix it.” Every Easter…Every Christmas, everyone gathers at Gramma’s…This Christmas, there were 32 of us. “I LOVE it!”, Gramma said. Ahhh, yes, I am going to be like her when I grow up.



POTPOURRI...

Fresh potpourri is the very best! A friend gave to me a lovely package containing a large grapefruit, a tangerine, fresh cranberries, a cheese cloth bundle of cloves, and a cinnamon stick. Boil in one quart of water and enjoy the sweet cinnamony aroma!



BABIES…

Babies and puppies are the best things in the world! I just love them, ESPECIALLY if they’re mine (well, my grandbaby at least :0)…



WINTER TIME…

A time to snuggle…A time to play…



A time for a big pot of homemade soup…



A time to cozy up with a good book like “The Long Winter” by Laura Ingalls Wilder…



A time to close out the world, as soon as it gets dark, and just be…

So, let us for today be content with ourselves…And may today there be peace with you.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

HEALTH & FOURTEEN-GRAIN CEREAL



There is much talk of health and a search for the cure…of cancer, and Parkinson’s, and Multiple Sclerosis, and…

Dr. Oz was on Oprah talking of the positive possibilities of living up to 150 years old. I have no desire to live that long, but living in such a way that will enhance the body—the very cells of the body—is something that is so appealing to me. Our bodies, a gift from our Heavenly Father, are so amazing and are very capable of healing themselves if we give them the right nutrients! We are now able to grow organs and body parts from our own cells. Hyperbaric chambers, calorie restriction (much better than it sounds), and other ways of enhancing our bodies were discussed on the show.



David Murdock, and 85-year-old gentleman, was also interviewed. He doesn’t take any pills—even aspirin. He eats mainly or all fruits and vegetables. The whole show was astounding in what and how we can and should treat these wonderful temples, which God gave us.

I have so very far to go…so very far. Nonetheless, it is a passion of mine to do so, and I am gaining if every so slowly.

For dinner tonight, I made a recipe which I have had for years. It is a 14-grain cereal. Because grains are so very important and other substances so very harmful we, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, were given what is called the Word of Wisdom.



“As a consequence of the early brethren using tobacco in their meetings, the Prophet was led to ponder upon the matter; consequently he inquired of the Lord concerning it. This revelation, known as the Word of Wisdom, was the result.”


The Word of Wisdom talks about avoiding strong drink and alcohol. Following are some of the verses, which speak of the foods that we should eat.



10 And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—
11 Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.
14 All agrain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;
16 All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground—
16 All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground—
18 And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;
19 And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
20 And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.
21 And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.


This speaks of grains—wonderful grains…

BARLEY





RYE





SUNFLOWER SEEDS





ALFALFA





SESAME





LENTILS





MUNG BEANS





MILLET





BUCKWHEAT




FLAX





BROWN RICE





OATS





WHEAT





ALMONDS





Though I didn’t have all of the grains needed—another trip to the health food store is in order—I used what grains I had to make my cereal.

FOURTEEN-GRAIN CEREAL FORMULA

1 c. of each of the following grains and seeds:

Barley
Rye
Sunflower seeds
Alfalfa seeds
Sesame seeds
Lentils
Mung beans
Millet
Buckwheat
Flax seed
Brown rice
Oats
Wheat
Almonds





1 c. filtered pure water



Mix all together except almonds and water.

Blend ½ c. grain mixture on high speed for several seconds.



Add this mixture to water in cast iron, stainless steel, or glass sauce pan (do not use aluminum). Add 8 almonds.



Heat and stir until mixture comes to a boil.

Turn heat down to simmer, cover, and let simmer for 15 minutes, stirring frequently.





Serve with milk or cream...



And brown sugar...



Raw honey and fruit may be added if desired...



Yield: Two servings

Store grain mixture in cool place. I freeze mine.





Mmmm, Mmmm, Good!