Need a little chuckle?

This guy thinks he's singing 5 octaves. This made me laugh. I needed that... thanks Shane.

Odds and Ends

These are just some things that have been on my mind recently. Before you get too serious, just know not a lot of serious stuff crosses my mind.

This first item is some shampoo that I bought at Aldi, oh, say a month ago. I've been looking at it in the shower and it says it is "normalizing shampoo." What does that mean? What is abnormal hair? Sounds bogus to me and it bothers me. :)

This is our Christmas pinata this year. Last year it was Frosty...but this year it is a tree we will whack. I've decided to put homemade goodies in there and ask the neighborhood kids to join in. I'll be sure to film that and share at a later date. Right now it is residing in my closet away from 1 1/2 year olds.

This is a book we got for Gwen at the library. You know me and children's books if you read this blog. Well... I got to looking at this cover and noticed something different about the mouse on it.

I told Ben that either this mouse has its tongue out or it is smoking a cigarette. He confirmed it is indeed sticking out its tongue.

Tomorrow I will be 34 weeks... 8 1/2 months. I feel like I am carrying a hulk of a baby in there and I'm getting weary. I ask Ben for nightly encouragement that I can and will be ok. I watched this TV invention show a long time ago where this guy made up this little plush toy that velcros around your neck and when you squeeze it it says "everything IS going to be all right." The guy called it the "therapy buddy." Ben and I laugh about me needing a therapy buddy. Ben is my therapy buddy. I am more tempted this time to ask for induction, but Ben says it's better if I let nature take its course. When he says that I want to say "nature, shmature", but I don't cause I'm way submissive. :) Oh, and the doctor said on Wednesday that she thinks the baby is head down. Good news! We set up the Christmas tree. Hurray! I'll make pictures soon for the thousands of folks who read my blog... ha ha!

Thanksgiving Day

I have so much to be thankful for. First of all, my Savior Jesus Christ for saving me. How could I EVER get over being thankful for that. Second, for my wonderful family. I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful and fun husband and such a bright and sweet daughter and now with another on the way. Here we are today eating. I'm getting that pregnant lady swollen face I think... on second thought, maybe it's the plate of food sitting in front of me. HA!

Ben's Grandma Georgia MCing the talent portion of the Thanksgiving Day. She is wonderful and we all love her very much.

Ben and Gwen having a smile.

Before everyone eats a prayer is said and then afterwards everyone always sings the Doxology. I filmed it this year. Such a neat family. Notice how many people are there! Ben and I did a skit this year that went over pretty well I'd say. By the way, I made the Welsh rarebit and I didn't like it. :) Oh well... HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Cinnamon Bread

Today I made cinnamon bread for Thanksgiving guests that will be staying at Ben's Grandmother's house. I tried a bit of it and it tasted delicious. I thought I'd share the recipe with you all. The only thing is that my dough didn't rise as much as I think it should have. I'm not sure why. Maybe I'll try again sometime. If you are one that likes cinnamon rolls, but doesn't like icing oozing off of them, then this bread is for you.

1 C milk- heat to a very warm temperature

3 T butter, 1 1/2 tsp salt and 2 T sugar- add both to milk until butter is incorporated in

1 egg white- beat till frothy, add to milk mixture

add a cup of flour to above

Dissolve 1 pkg yeast in 1/4 C lukewarm water. Let rise a bit, then add to above. Stir in 2 C flour, one cup at a time, then add flour as needed. approx. 1/2 more if needed.

spray bowl with veg spray, put dough in bowl, spray top of dough. Cover with saran wrap and let double in size.

Mix together cinnamon and sugar (1 C sugar, a few T of cinn). Roll dough out in oblong strip. Spread with butter to about an inch from top. Sprinkle cin/sug mixture on butter. Roll up and pinch together at non-buttered end. Cut in half and place each loaf in bread pans, sprayed with veg spray. Cover and let rise until doubled in size. Bake at 350 for 25 min. Immediately after removing bread from oven and bread pans, baste with butter all over and let cool.

Fun With Daddy

Meal Plan

Whew... this week was hard deciding on what to make and there is a lot going on. I've been trying to do a little Christmas shopping every day and it is a chore for me. I am not one of those women that enjoys shopping and I find the whole task confusing. I was in the mall for some 2 hours today and did I buy anything? No... but I sure enjoyed the carousel ride with Gwen and watching her play with other kids. Oh, and my peach tea I bought. HA! If you are interested in riding carousels and getting peach teas then go shopping with me... because that's about all I can stand. Walking through the cosmetic department is always amusing to me. There I am, no makeup on, and looking well... rather... unkempt and they look at me and down to Gwen and say "you are so pretty." Is it a sin to look at their lined lips and think "why do you do that?" OK... enough rambling... onto the food! Happy Thanksgiving!

To bring to a pregnant mom to freeze for later: molten chocolate cookies (yes, I made them and I was disappointed. I was expecting them to be the best cookie I'd ever put in my mouth, but they were just ok), sausage balls, alphabet soup with beef and vegetables, cornbread muffins

For Thanksgiving: cinnamon yeast bread, Welsh rarebit (my exotic choice this year to bring), green bean casserole

Just our everyday meals:

spicy black bean soup, cornbread

Indian food- from last week... haven't made yet- time consuming

baked pretzel crusted chicken breasts- trying the same recipe except baking the chicken instead of frying this time, vegetable, salad

chicken quesadillas

creamy baked chicken breasts, wild rice, peas

chili and leftover cornbread

Modern Homesteaders

If you are like me, you can appreciate the desire to live simply. This couple decided to do just that by putting their house on the market and living in a tipi for a year while they build a cabin. They are in Missouri. I find their blog very interesting and thought you might too. Here's the link:

http://hickoryhollowhomestead.typepad.com/hickory-hollow-homestead/

Whew

I was reading a book to Gwen today that we got from the library last night. I have come to the conclusion that some people just don't think the way I do... but I felt I needed to share this one. This page says "Cecily Parsley is making cowslip wine for this gentleman. But who is that peeking in at the window?" Ok, a rabbit making wine... made me smile.

Next page... (and I know it is turned the wrong way.. for some reason blogger won't let me insert it the right way) it says "Benjamin Bunny is smoking a pipe of rabbit tobacco. The Flopsy Bunnies are playing. Can you see another face at the door?" Ok... a rabbit smoking. At this point I'm thinking the next page is going to have a rabbit shooting up some rabbit heroine.

Whew! the next page reads, "Meet old Mrs. Rabbit. she is making camomile tea for poor Peter Rabbit tucked up in bed." Don't you spell it chamomile? Anyway.. maybe this is a British book. Nothing against the Brits, but they do have different spellings of things. When I was over there I was amazed to see they spell tires like "tyres." At least we can depend on little old ladies (rabbits) to just be making tea instead of rabbit heroine.

My Favorite This Year

Joys Seven

This is a song my choir is preparing for Christmas. I've been thinking of the words lately and how all these things could be a joy to the heart of Mary. I asked the singer next to me how could it be a joy to see Jesus on a crucifix and she said to me, "He was defeating sin." Do you think Mary knew that then? See what you think.

The first good joy that Mary had, it was the joy of one;
to see the blessed Jesus Christ when he was first her son;
when he was first her son good man, and blessed may he be,
both Father, Son and Holy Ghost to all eternity.

The next good joy that Mary had, it was the joy of two;
to see her own son Jesus Christ to make the lame to go;
to make the lame to go, good man, and blessed may he be,
Both Father, Son and Holy Ghost to all eternity.

The next good joy that Mary had, it was the joy of three;
to see her son Jesus Christ to make blind to see;
to make the blind to see, good man, and blessed may he be,
both Father, Son and Holy Ghost to all eternity.

The next good joy that Mary had, it was the joy of four,
to see her own son Jesus Christ to read the Bible o'er
to read the Bible o'er good man, and blessed may he be,
both Father, Son and Holy Ghost to all eternity.

The next good joy that Mary had, it was the joy of five,
to see her own son Jesus to bring the dead alive,
to bring the dead alive good man, and blessed may he be,
both Father, Son and Holy Ghost to all eternity.

The next good joy that Mary had, it was the joy of six,
to see her own son, Jesus Christ upon the crucifix,
upon the crucifix good man, and blessed may he be
both Father, Son and Holy Ghost to all eternity.

The next good joy that Mary had, it was the joy of seven,
to see her own son Jesus Christ to wear the crown of Heaven,
to wear the crown of Heaven good man, and blessed may he be
both Father, Son and Holy Ghost to all eternity.

Quite Possibly the Best Ventroliquist Act You Will Ever See in Your Whole Life

For Fun

These made me laugh.

Meal Plan

meatloaf, corn pudding, green beans, banana bread- bringing to a friend and having it ourselves
aloo golby, dal makanee, chipati- Indian food
tomato and bean stoup
pretzel-crusted chicken breasts, sweet potato, broccoli
red beans and rice, hot dogs, cantaloupe, cucumber slices
tomato basil orzo soup, garlic bread

Turkey Hat Returns

The turkey hat has returned for another season and Ben and Gwen were playing. Gwen is actually wearing a little shirt on her head, but I thought it looked like a court jester. They have a lot of fun together.

Videos

I thought you all might like to see these videos. One is of Gwen in Alabama playing fetch with my mom's dog, Bonnie. The other one is of a sound puzzle that Grandma Barreth got for her. The sound of the guinea pig makes me laugh. Whoever thought of putting a guinea pig on there?

Some Mentionables

These are some roses I cut from our rose bush in the back yard. Aren't they beautiful? They are called "Julia Child" roses. :)


Recently I bought a body pillow. I have no idea how to even sleep with the thing. One of my friends swears by it. I know in this photo my bed isn't made, but I figure if I'm going to get back in it for a nap at some time why bother.. ya know? Anyway, Ben calls it the velveteen slug because I bought a velvety pillow cover for it. He wanted to call it "Larry the slug," but I didn't want anything in my bed having a man's name. :)


I mean, look at the size of this thing. I could sleep on just about anything right now and I would be uncomfortable I think. I'm 31 weeks now. 9 or maybe 10 to go... but who's counting? :)

Baby Bap Update

Well... yesterday I went to the doctor. My doctor was called out of the office for a delivery right as I got there, so I saw another doctor... Dr. Newby. I thought that name was funny. Who am I to talk right? Well... everything looks good with Baby Bap. She couldn't tell yet how the baby was laying and I've only gained 11 pounds. She said that's fine. I'm not gestational diabetic (praise the Lord!) and the baby is moving a lot. I'm looking forward to knowing whether it is a boy or girl. I thought I was measuring farther along, but she said yesterday that I wasn't. Oh well... I guess no December baby after all. I'm feeling fine, but that late pregnancy heaviness has definitely come upon me. I find standing for more than 30 minutes makes me tired.

Recipes

Here are some recipes that I picked up at home in Alabama looking through magazines.

I'm trying this one this week:

Whole Grain Marshmallow Crispy Bars

Makes 24 bars, prep 15 min, cook 5 min, stand 15 min

3 T butter
1 10.5 oz bag miniature marshmallows
1 15 oz box multi-grain cluster cereal
1 1/4 cups dried cranberries, divided
vegetable cooking spray

1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Add marshmallows, and cook, stirring constantly, 4 to 5 minutes or until melted and smooth. Remove from heat.

2. Stir in cereal and 1 C dried cranberries until well coated.

3. Press mixture into a 13X9 inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Chop remaining 1/4 C dried cranberries, and sprinkle on top. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes or until firm. Cut into 24 bars.

and this recipe I'm saving for special guests or give away baskets at Christmas time. These are a little too dangerous for me to go ahead and make now. :)

Molten Lava Cookies

1 C (2 sticks) butter, softened
2 C sugar
3/4 C cocoa powder
2 eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 C all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/3 C dark or semisweet chocolate (at least 60% cocoa), roughly chopped
powdered sugar for garnish (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Cream together butter and sugar with an electric mixer. Add cocoa powder, eggs and vanilla; mix until combined.

2. Combine flour and baking powder in a separate bowl. Gradually add to butter mixture.

3. Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Using your thumb, press a thumbprint into the center; fill with a piece of chocolate and fold dough over to cover chocolate.

4. Place balls 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until edges are firm and tops are soft. Remove cookies to a cooling rack; dust with powdered sugar, if desired. Store in airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Meal Plan

Ben helped me waddle into Aldi's grocery store tonight with Gwen. Man, is it getting harder to do stuff! So anyway, here is my meal plan for the week now that I'm back home.

chicken broccoli braid- minus the broccoli and inserting peas, salad

pork chops, rice a roni, broccoli

jambalaya with hot dogs in there, sweet potato biscuits

thai style roast, cous cous

spaghetti with salad

omelets, salad