A new family member, so to speak...

Oh where to start.... . I am not an animal person to a high degree. I will pet a dog or cat if it approaches me, but I wont push one in a stroller or carry it in my purse. I also will never swerve to miss anything that crosses my path on the road as my children's welfare is much more important. That being said, our family has never had a house dog. Oh, they have begged and pleaded but I have stood firm. I have enough going on in my daily routine without the added stress of a dog underfoot. I have stood firm that is, until last week. Meet Roy..

I went to the pet store last week with my husband and daughter to buy some toys for the new dog we got for OUTSIDE and came home with this little guy.  He is a 4 1/2 pound papillon. They kids are in their glory between the outside dog and the inside dog....what have I done?

Pray for me!

Homemade is best!

Our family loves homemade pizza. I have found a wonderful pizza crust recipe (see below) that is pretty much fool proof. We always make 2 jelly roll pans so there is some for lunch the next day and the pizzas are never the same. We try all kinds of combinations. These were pepperoni with onions and mushrooms (on one) with all the left over cheese that was in the fridge. Some mozzarella and some cheddar and a little Parmesan. My husband made the dough for these for me last night and even he was impressed with how easy it was.

For the two pizzas above, Joe made a double batch of dough and the crust is not too thick.

Pizza Crust

1C. warm water

1T. Yeast

2 1/4 t. Active dry yeast

3 T. Olive oil

1t. Salt

2 1/2 C. Flour

Directions:

Stir water, sugar and yeast together until dissolved. I usually let this set for about 3 to 5 minutes. Add olive oil and salt. Stir in flour until well blended and let rest for 10 minutes.

I usually knead the dough on a floured surface about five times, but that isn't necessary. I roll the dough out on the pan, add sauce and toppings and bake for 20 minutes at 425 degrees. If I bake two pizzas at the same time, I increase the baking time by five minutes and switch the pizzas half way through. 

This recipe is easily changed by adding herbs to the dough or using whole wheat flour.

Enjoy!!   

Tomatoes are ON!

OK! Tomatoes are on and need to processed into all things tomatoooeeyyy. Salsa, catsup, pizza sauce, diced tomatoes and maybe even spaghetti sauce if the bounty is large enough. Below I have given the recipe for Catsup that I am using this year. My mom already made some up and we all loved it, even the kidos. It is simple in that it does not require any stirring once its put in the oven for 10 hours.

8 quarts tomato puree (24 lbs tomatoes)
12 oz. thick tomato paste
3 green peppers
5 large onions
2 C. cider vinegar
1C. light corn syrup
1C. sugar
1t. pepper
2T. pickling salt
2t. ground allspice

Puree tomatoes with a squeezo strainer (I use my Kitchen Aid attatchment). Liquify the tomato paste, peppers, onions and vinegar in a blender or food processor. Mix the purees with the remaining ingredients in a large roaster pan. Stir well.
Cook, uncovered, in a 200 degree oven for 10 hours. Do not stir. When the cooking time is up, ladle the hot catsup into clean, hot jars. Leave 1/2 inch head space. Process in a hot water bath for 10 minutes for pints, 15 minutes for quarts.
YIELD 6 Quarts!  Our family of 7 seems to go through about a quart a week so I hope my tomato plants really produce!

Last night I cried....

Last night I cried and I cried and I cried..... I felt myself being pulled back into the awful pain of our adoption process. So frustrating. I thought I had dealt with all the pain, but when it was thrown in my face by someone I considered a dear friend, I realized that maybe I only suppressed it.  I literally wailed as I took a walk through the woods. I just couldn't stop. Today I feel like I am in a fog. Not able to think. I called that friend and apologized for any pain that I had caused her when we adopted our son. I apologized for any pain that they might have had as a result.  I don't know what else to do. I gave my anger and resentment for the way people had judged us and lied about us to the Lord long ago and I harbored no ill will to those people. I just want to go back to bed and stay there. It hurts and I am tired...

Finished!

A few weeks ago I was tagged by a fellow blogger and asked several interesting questions about my kitchen. I wished that I could have answered those questions with pictures to go along, but my husband was in the middle of building a special project for me. Bless his heart, he built me some seating with storage so we could get rid of the many chairs that were constantly clogging the way.

The bench is U shaped and seats lots!

I just love how well it turned out. The kitchen just seams so open and light now. Anyway, I just thought I would share!

Blessings!

Cybil

Patience is tough...

This year the weather has been so tough on northern Indiana. Snow started long before Thanksgiving last year and finally quit just last week. The majority of the snow has been gone for about 3 weeks, but we still have those irritating flurries that threaten my daffodils! I am truly thankful that we have been safe all winter while driving and the house has stayed toasty warm. God is good!

Some of the 30+ patches of daffodils that I have.

THIS is why I love spring!!

I wish I could share some posies with all of you, but for now, this will have to do!

Blessings!

Cybil

Learning process...

Yesterday, for the first time, I went to a grocery store that sells strictly organic foods, healthy chemical free foods and grass fed meats. It was really interesting...and very expensive! I bought a few things to try but I read a ton of labels! I have been under conviction to change the way our family eats. Thankfully my husband shares those feelings. We already grow our own chicken and process them our selves. This year we are also trying turkeys. I have a garden and also put up a variety of other things that are native to our area. I am going to try to grow vegetables from seeds that have NOT been genetically modified. My gardening efforts will be increased this year so that I wont have to pay for any food that I dont need to.

Our nation is filled with processed foods that are eaten up in the name of convienience. Processed foods are filled with chemicals to help hold flavor, hold color, keep food slippery, extend shelf life into the next century and not to mention taste good. We consistantly sit by and allow ourselves and our families to eat things that can potentially cause cancer, birth defects, ADHD, autism and any array of other health issues. So sad!

For my family, I say...NO MORE!! I hope you will also consider a look into the chemicals that your family is eating on a daily basis. The average child under the age of five eats eight chemicals per day. WOW!

Blessings!

Cybil

Trying Something new!

I have been looking through recipes for homemade granola and wanted to add some dried cranberries to my recipe. The ones in the store are generally boiled in sugar water before they are dried and so I wanted a more natural approach. I was suprised to find that I could do this at home with my oven. I simply had to blanch the berries so that the skins popped and then lightly dry them on paper towel. Layer a baking sheet with 3 layers of paper towel and then a layer of parchment paper. I set my oven to 170 because thats the lowest it will go, but 150 was recomended.  I will leave the berries in the oven for 8 hours. I might actually let mine in there over night. I am excited to see what happens. I purchased the cranberries for $.25 per bag at a discount grocery that I go to. I think that makes for a fair prices since I am leaving the oven on for so long.

Blessings!

Cybil

I shouldn't have...

But I did! I made a pound cake today and topped it with strawberries. It was my little effort to get spring in gear. I used 1/3 less sugar  in the cake and very little on the berries. A few weeks ago Meijer had strawberries on sale for a dollar a pound so I bought 25 lbs and froze them. I wish I could share with everyone, but the picture will have to do!

Blessings!

Cybil

A touch of femininity for my girls....

Sunday mornings at our home can be hectic getting everyone dressed and out the door for church on time. That is actually kind of funny because I have no trouble getting the kids to school or anywhere else on time. Anyway, we have kind of gotten into a rut over what we wear to church. I grew up wearing my best to church every Sunday. Now that I am married and have a family, we attend a different church that is more relaxed and heart focused rather than custom focused. The boys wear nice jeans and the girls wear khaki dress pants or even occasionally jeans.
I was thinking yesterday (as I watched my children scatter to sunday school) that my girls will grow up to raise their little girls the same way. Pants! Ugh! Dont get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with pants, but young ladies and little girls look so prescious in dresses and skirts. So feminine. It is only recently that we have gotten lazy. Lazy!! My girls used to wear beautiful clothes to church that my mother would search out in boutiques when she was on vacation. She even sewed some of the more special things from the satin of her own wedding gown.
Now I know that my 14, 12 and 10 year old daughters would not go for that now, but I was not at all prepared for the response that I got when I asked them if they wanted some skirts for church.
It was a resounding YES!!!! The were so excited. So yesterday after church I grabbed my mom, my girls,and my coupons, gift cards and Khols Cash and headed to the city. I must admit that I NEVER do this! I am a thrifty girl by nature and dont normally shop at the mall as a first step. Its usually when I have exhausted everything else. I spent some money, but I also saved a ton as well using my gift cards and coupons that I had saved up as well as hitting some sales that riveled the Salvation Army!  It was also a great opportunity for some girl talk about appropriate fashions and modesty. I wont say that the girls deserved these new things (they have Christ and is all they will ever need) but they deffinately appreciated them and cant wait till next Sunday.  

Blessings!

Cybil

I was tagged...does that mean I am it???

Andrea at Rightthinker tagged me for a meme about my kitchen.  This has never happened to me before and I wont tag anyone else because I honestly don’t know how! SORRY!! I am not even sure I know what a meme is! Anyway, I enjoyed reading about other peoples kitchens so I filled in the questions about mine. (Sorry Andrea if I screwed this up!!)

1) Do you have magnets on the fridge?

Yep! I buy stainless steel magnets with clips attached. They hold current papers for school and the occasional art work from Cody’s preschool.

2) Do you have a calendar in the kitchen, and if so, what's the theme?

Yes! My calendar is antique tractors! It was free from my husbands employer.

3)  What is your favorite kitchen gadget or tool?

Definitely my Kitchen Aid mixer. I have almost all of the attachments and I love it. It is especially helpful for harvest season and for my noodles.

4)  Are you lucky enough to have a pantry of some kind?

I have a pantry in my kitchen that is a fair size for the age of my house and I have an area in my basement for home canned food and bulk purchases.

5)  What is your favorite appliance?

My favorite appliance has definitely got to be my new stove! My hubby bought it for me just this week and I love it. It ranks up there with the dish washer that runs at least three times a day. Maybe it’s a tie….

6)  Do you have an eat-in-kitchen?

We do have an eat-in kitchen. My husband is currently building a banquet for my table and it is really looking great! We also have a dinning room attached to the living room, but it is carpeted so we use it only for holidays. Food + kids + carpet = a big mess!!
7)  Do you have a bread box?

Yes and I use it for bread on a daily basis! Its an antique and I love the beautiful color green.

8)  Do you have pictures of your kids on the fridge?

I have a few school pics, but try not to keep them up as the edges tend to curl. I am an avid scrap booker and know the importance of taking care of the pics!

9)  Do you ever cook breakfast in your PJ's?

Not really… During the week I am dressed for breakfast. On the weekends my husband LOVES to make breakfast so I might eat it in my pj’s then. 

10)  Do you have a favorite cookbook?

I have several old cookbooks that I glean recipes from as well as a collection of family recipes.

11)  Are you lucky enough to have recipes that were passed down from grandmother and mother?  
Yes, my grandmother and her sisters were really well known in the area for their baking and candy making and I have all of those recipes as well as the ones from their restaurant. My mother is a wonderful cook and baker as well and she has made up several sought after recipes.
12)  What's your favorite thing to cook?
I actually love to cook anything over the open fire. We camp a LOT in the spring, summer and fall and we try just about anything over the open flame.

13)  Is your coffee pot electric or stove top?

Electric

14)  Do you make your own bread?

Sometimes. I would like to more often but the time……

15)  Does your kitchen have a theme?

My kitchen is filled with antiques and vintage items. I try to find vintage items to use in my kitchen when replacing something. We eat off of ironstone daily and I love to search for new pieces.

16)  Is there a clock in your kitchen?

Only the ones attached to the microwave and the stove.

17)  Do you have a bowl of fruit on your table or counter.  

Always!

18)  What type of canisters do you have?

I have vintage aluminum canisters but they are put away right now.

19)  Name one thing you have hanging on the wall in your kitchen

My enormous enamelware bowl. White with red trim. It’s the popcorn bowl.

20)  What's for supper tonight?

Tonight we were going to have steak on the grill with sweet potatoes and mixed veggies but the regulator on the grill went out and the fire almost took out our garage……so I ran and picked up  some chicken from a local favorite to replace the charred steak.

21)  Do you have enough cabinet space?

Not really….. I do have room in the basement on shelves that keep things that I use rarely like the bunt pan. I make do. The new seating that my husband is building will have lift up seats to store things like my crock pots and tablecloths. That will be helpful!
22)  Does your family use paper plates?

 We use paper plates for camping or when I am away, my husband will use them.

23)  Do you have a good set of china packed up?

I have several sets of china. Two sets at my immediate disposal and the other sets are in the attic. My grandmother, mother and myself as well as the great-aunts were/are all collectors of antique china and glassware. I am trying to teach my girls how to make a beautiful table.

24)  Do you wear an apron to work in the kitchen?

I fail at this….

25)  Name one thing you would change about your kitchen if you could?

I would LOVE wide plank (12 in) heart pine floors. Sigh….

Loving my Husband

I will be honest in saying that, in the past, I was the one in our home who made things happen. Until recently there hasent been an alpha male. There was Joe and there was me. We have been married for 15 years. Those years have not always been super happy, but we have always made things work. Recently with the enormous amounts of stress we have gone through, I have found that my shoulders are not quite as broad as they once were. I cannot handle everything on my own and I have started to lean on Joe for decisions and leadership in our home.  Let me tell you...it is wonderful to come up under his guidence and direction. I, of course, knew it would/could be this way. After all we have taken enough marriage classes in our Bible study group over the years that its has been ingrained in my brain, but it wasnt in my heart.  For me to give over even small decisions to him was like pulling teeth and then eventually he just relied on me....just like one of the kids.

I am married to a man who is finding his own within our family after 15 years of marriage. I have Rhumatiod Arthritis and I almost wonder if the Lord didnt allow this to happen in order for me to "have no other choice" but to allow Joe as the head of our home. One never knows...

Blessings!

Cybil

Its only been a year...

I had to remember today that it has only been a year since our son came into our home at the age of 4. I had worked so hard at his reactive attatchment training and when things settled down, so did my training with him. Not smart. I recently started babysitting for an infant and two toddlers who are wonderful therapy for me as I can't have anymore children. My son has gotten irritable and nervous about my "attatchment" to this infant and is reacting. Frustrating!

Smacking my head against the wall!!

So thankful for a call I made to a friend who hooked me up with some extra reactive attatchment training available soon.  Thankful that I was able to vent a little and learn a little.

God is good..... I am nothing without His stringth.

Blessings!!

Cybil

I can feel spring if I try hard enough!

It has snowed and blowed (it that really a word???) through northern Indiana this year! Having not lived more than six miles from my current address all my life, I guess you could say that I am used to Indiana weather and know what to expect. I actually used to love the cooler months more than the warmer months......until I met my husband. He has trained me over the years to be a lover of spring, summer and fall. ONLY! Winter is officially OUT after the tree comes down. The snow is beautiful and covers up alot of ugliness outside. I do love to sit on the couch with a great book and a cup of coffee while it is snowing. OK, now I'm getting awfully picky and ungrateful. Thank you Lord for the beautiful snow that is so good for my garden and covers up the ugly yard and gives the kids yet something else to be excited about.

I tell you what though, it is the end of January and I can feel spring coming. I am going to be starting my flower seeds in mid February and that makes spring come even quicker. March brings on the vegetable plants for my garden and that means spring is aaaaaalmost here. I will be content though and not press the Lord for spring or He will press me for patience.



 This is the view I get every time I walk into my kitchen.

I need to stop complaining!

 Blessings!!

Cybil

James 1:19

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the rrighteous life that God desires.

This verse is one that I have heard several times over my Christian walk and yet for the first time, it has truly caused me to pause. Our Sunday School teacher was teaching on this verse last Sunday and I was suddenly very aware that I wasn't listening to my children or husband. I was angering quickly and speaking even quicker. I can see the evidence that my actions have taken on my 2nd to oldest daughter. She is twelve and starting to shut herself away from me. Why shouldn't't she, I don't listen and I quickly speak over her.

Don't expect your children to develop character any better than that which you display to them.

This is something that I read off of a blog this week that is also sooooo very true. I often hear my younger children arguing, using the exact words and tone of voice that has come from my own lips. I feel so pathetic and ashamed of myself. I am the adult and child of God that KNOWS BETTER!!

Forgive me Lord, and help me to plant these words in my heart and be reminded of them daily. Hourly if needed. Amen.

Blessings!

Cybil

Back at it..

Tomorrow the kiddos go back to school. I loved having them home, but they are ready to head out to schedules and structure. I purposefully don't impose too much structure on Christmas break as its about the only time of the year that they get to "veg". I had started a routine before Christmas of having devotions before bed. I was looking through the web tonight trying to find online devotionals for my inbox. I love being able to print them quickly. My goal for the year is to keep the kids devotionals on task. The kids truly love it and so do I.

My adopted son is not going back to preschool until Friday. This has been a rougher 2 weeks for him than usual. He is usually the only one home with me and has me all to himself. He has had to share me, his dad, his toys and his home to brothers and sisters as well as extra friends for this school break and I can tell its been a bit of a stretch. He has been acting out a little and I am anxious to see if he settles back into routine. He needs routine and stability to make him feel secure and somewhat in control of his life. The sweet little dear.

Blessings!

Cybil  

Family game night 101

We had our first family game night of 2011! It was super fun and everyone had a great time! We played Funglish for the first time and it was a really great game for everyone down to about 7 or 8 years of age. My sister-in-law said at Thanksgiving that we need to make a point of getting together for game nights more than just at the holidays. She was so right! We have had so much fun joking, laughing, being connected and just relaxing with one another. All 8 cousins play together with the WII or down in the basement or joining us adults in the games. They often beat us! Its so great to strengthen the bonds of family in these tough times. Times when family is often discarded and overlooked. Cant wait for next month when we can do it again. We all really want this to become a family tradition that continues on with our children.