So Thanksgiving is less than a week away and I have about 25 people coming this year. The four of us, Magie, Glenn, Granny, Ashley, Sara, Jenny, Melissa, Cody, James, Derek, Randy, Dylan, the other Melissa, Brandon, Hope, Virginia, Ladosha, Jason, Johanna, Sarah, Benjamin. Did I forget anyone. Three are pretty little yet.
Today was Grandparents day at our school. There is a Thanksgiving dinner served followed by a musical program. Alex was a shark in the play "Fish".
Sadly, Andy didn't participate. He's been fighting a respiratory problem all week.
Alex went to the dentist this morning, did well with the cleaning and no cavities. Andy was supposed to go but due to illness we will reschedule.
We bought a turkey fryer tonight. And the oil. The oil is almost as expensive as the fryer. Magie is butchering two of her turkeys for our consumption next Thursday. We are also having a ham, two kinds of green beans, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and some other stuff. I need to get some chairs from the church. I think I have enough tables, thanks to my grandpa Smith making extra leaves for the dining room table. But a little short on chairs. One of our neighbors put out a table for free, so it found a new home here at Green Gates.
I wonder if our royal palm turkeys would cooperate and have their pictures taken wearing pilgrim outfits. Probably not, I may try to keep them in the front yard for yard art.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Fast and Easy Meatloaf
1 1/2 lb ground beef
2 slices white bread, crusts removed, and cubed
1/4 c milk
1 egg
1 small onion grated
3/4 c breadcrumbs browned in 3 T butter
1/4 c chopped parsley
1 t. mixed dried herbs
Put beef in a bowl, soak bread in milk and add to beef along with egg, onion, herbs, salt and pepper. Combine lightly. Shape into 2 loaves and arrange in a greased baking dish (with sides) leaving a space in the middle. Brush tops with soy sauce and bake 350* for 45 minutes.
Meanwhile combine 16 oz can of crushed tomatoes, 1 t. sugar, 2 crushed garlic cloves, salt and pepper. Season with salt and pepper. After the meatloaf has baked for 45 minutes, spoon tomato mixture in the middle and sprinkle bread crumbs on top. Bake additional 15 minutes. Serves 6
2 slices white bread, crusts removed, and cubed
1/4 c milk
1 egg
1 small onion grated
3/4 c breadcrumbs browned in 3 T butter
1/4 c chopped parsley
1 t. mixed dried herbs
Put beef in a bowl, soak bread in milk and add to beef along with egg, onion, herbs, salt and pepper. Combine lightly. Shape into 2 loaves and arrange in a greased baking dish (with sides) leaving a space in the middle. Brush tops with soy sauce and bake 350* for 45 minutes.
Meanwhile combine 16 oz can of crushed tomatoes, 1 t. sugar, 2 crushed garlic cloves, salt and pepper. Season with salt and pepper. After the meatloaf has baked for 45 minutes, spoon tomato mixture in the middle and sprinkle bread crumbs on top. Bake additional 15 minutes. Serves 6
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Facebook, emails and prayer
I've been having trouble getting on Facebook. Finally got on tonight but couldn't get Happy Pets to download. Figures.
We have really slow internet, course we live in the middle of nowhere, so it figures. I get really disgusted with the slowness, especially seems to affect my email. My mom, who should get her own blog going, has been sending me emails about my uncle. If you don't mind, please say a prayer for my Uncle Tedd. The doctors discovered a brain tumor and it's not operable. They were going to do chemo on it, but discovered blood clots in his lung. So it is a waiting game for the blood clots to clear before starting chemo.
While you at it, say a prayer for my dad that his blood clot has gone away when he goes to the doctor next week.
On a positive note, my Alex was named student of the week in our local newspaper. I'll be buying a number of copies to send out, scrapbook and such.
We have really slow internet, course we live in the middle of nowhere, so it figures. I get really disgusted with the slowness, especially seems to affect my email. My mom, who should get her own blog going, has been sending me emails about my uncle. If you don't mind, please say a prayer for my Uncle Tedd. The doctors discovered a brain tumor and it's not operable. They were going to do chemo on it, but discovered blood clots in his lung. So it is a waiting game for the blood clots to clear before starting chemo.
While you at it, say a prayer for my dad that his blood clot has gone away when he goes to the doctor next week.
On a positive note, my Alex was named student of the week in our local newspaper. I'll be buying a number of copies to send out, scrapbook and such.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
More chickens, and a rabbit too
This is not a pretty post. Last week, one of our dogs went through the little chicken door and killed seven of our hens. And then he pulled Bubba and Buster (Andy and Alex's pet Dutch rabbits) out of their cages and killed them. This dog has gone to find a new home.
So yesterday at the auction I bought 9 hens and a young Rhode Island Red rooster. The hens are seven white Wyandottes, one BSL and one Cuckoo Maran. They are molting right now (and the Wyandottes are severely picked) so it will be a while before we get eggs from them. But right now we are lucky to get one or two eggs a day out of our surviving hens. Plus the three pullets who survived. I had just taken some of our older BSL hens to the auction the week before this all happened along with the three 2 month old rabbits.
Yesterday I also bought, for two dollars, year old doe. We named her Mrs B. She was born the same day as the grandson, James, so it was like we had to get her.
On a brighter note, Granny gave Peter a male chihuahua, Chico, for his birthday. Chico had killed most of their baby kittens. So now Chico hangs out with Eliza, our Westie. And with Princess, our female chihuahua. So some day we will have puppies for sale. Chihuahuas should only have one or two, possibly three puppies in a litter.
So yesterday at the auction I bought 9 hens and a young Rhode Island Red rooster. The hens are seven white Wyandottes, one BSL and one Cuckoo Maran. They are molting right now (and the Wyandottes are severely picked) so it will be a while before we get eggs from them. But right now we are lucky to get one or two eggs a day out of our surviving hens. Plus the three pullets who survived. I had just taken some of our older BSL hens to the auction the week before this all happened along with the three 2 month old rabbits.
Yesterday I also bought, for two dollars, year old doe. We named her Mrs B. She was born the same day as the grandson, James, so it was like we had to get her.
On a brighter note, Granny gave Peter a male chihuahua, Chico, for his birthday. Chico had killed most of their baby kittens. So now Chico hangs out with Eliza, our Westie. And with Princess, our female chihuahua. So some day we will have puppies for sale. Chihuahuas should only have one or two, possibly three puppies in a litter.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
I'm not bragging
Really, I'm not bragging, just stating a fact. Alex, who is seven and technically a first grader, is in a second grade classroom doing second grade work. He recently took the NEA (or some other acronym) test which has nationwide results. Alex scored in the 99%, nationwide, in spelling, reading and math. So, yes we are doing the happy dance around here. Alex will be graduating from college in a few years. That part is a joke.
But on another topic, we (meaning me) brought home Princess on Tuesday. She is a 10 week old Chihuahua. Princess is the granddaughter of my best friend Magie's dog Ariel. Magie wants my llama, also named Ariel. Somebody will need a new name.
But on another topic, we (meaning me) brought home Princess on Tuesday. She is a 10 week old Chihuahua. Princess is the granddaughter of my best friend Magie's dog Ariel. Magie wants my llama, also named Ariel. Somebody will need a new name.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Wassail for Kids
School parties start soon. Halloween followed by Christmas. Magie and I are the homeroom moms for the 3rd grade Christmas party. I'm thinking this recipe for their drink. See what Magie thinks.
1 qt apple cider
5 cloves
2 c. sugar
1 t ground nutmeg
1 -- 6 oz can orange juice
1 stick cinnamon
Boil cinnamon stick and cloves in 3 c. water and sugar. Cool. Mix juices. Add spiced sugar water when ready to serve. Heat but do not boil. Delicious served cold. Makes 50 servings so with only 12 kids in the class maybe a 1/4 of the recipe.
1 qt apple cider
5 cloves
2 c. sugar
1 t ground nutmeg
1 -- 6 oz can orange juice
1 stick cinnamon
Boil cinnamon stick and cloves in 3 c. water and sugar. Cool. Mix juices. Add spiced sugar water when ready to serve. Heat but do not boil. Delicious served cold. Makes 50 servings so with only 12 kids in the class maybe a 1/4 of the recipe.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Chocolate Almond Sheet Cake
I found this recipe in a cookbook which I received as a wedding present. It's easy to make and the boys like it. So they like any type of dessert.
3/4 c butter or margarine
1 c water
1/4 c baking cocoa
2 1/2 c all purpose flour
2 c sugar
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
2 eggs
1/2 c milk
1 t vanilla
1 t almond extract
Bring butter, water and cocoa to a boil over medium heat. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. In a mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar, soda, and salt. Beat in cocoa mixture. Add eggs, milk and extracts. Pour into greased sheet cake pan. Bake at 350* for 20-28 minutes depending on your altitude. Cool for 10 minutes. While the cake is cooling make the frosting. Put 1/2 c butter and 1/4 c milk in a saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until butter melts. Remove from the heat and add 3 c confectioners sugar, 1/4 c baking cocoa and 1 t vanilla. Beat well. Spread over warm cake.
This does really well for church potlucks and family get togethers.
3/4 c butter or margarine
1 c water
1/4 c baking cocoa
2 1/2 c all purpose flour
2 c sugar
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
2 eggs
1/2 c milk
1 t vanilla
1 t almond extract
Bring butter, water and cocoa to a boil over medium heat. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. In a mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar, soda, and salt. Beat in cocoa mixture. Add eggs, milk and extracts. Pour into greased sheet cake pan. Bake at 350* for 20-28 minutes depending on your altitude. Cool for 10 minutes. While the cake is cooling make the frosting. Put 1/2 c butter and 1/4 c milk in a saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until butter melts. Remove from the heat and add 3 c confectioners sugar, 1/4 c baking cocoa and 1 t vanilla. Beat well. Spread over warm cake.
This does really well for church potlucks and family get togethers.
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