Knit n' that

Been a busy week, I can hardly believe it's almost over. I swear, where does time go! LOL Now I sound like every other old person. Must be showing my age : ) A busy week-end ahead too, don't think I will be home much. We are leaving a week from today for our first camping trip of the season. I am so excited I could pee my pants! I might just get a chance to sit and stitch, for then 10 minute intervals! I also don't think DH gets a day off until then either, guess he's looking forward to it as well : ) Only downer is that Z can't join us the first two nights, he has to work. He always leaves things until the last minuet and didn't ask for the time and someone else will already be gone. So DH will have to drive back down and pick him up Sat afternoon (half day of work for him) and pick him up, so he can at least spend Mother's day with me. The only up here is that he will be home to take care of the pet's and won't have to kennel them (down side to having handicapped pets = no one wants to pet sit) and will save money. Oh and guess what I am getting for Mothers Day? A hot water tank for the RV. Yeah, ours cracked and it cost hubby $100 to get it repaired. I guess it's fair since I said I wanted to camp for mother's day and I am like the main person to use the RV bathroom : )

Well I found a will model for my wrist warmers, twin dd E ~

They fit her good, I think I will use bigger needles to make adult sizes

These are pretty easy to make, just tedious knitting in the round the whole time

I think I will try these in some of my novelty yarn, then they will be fashion statements and not just useful!

Here is another random pet pic to amuse you

Tina, B's cat, sleeping in an early morning patch of sun on the pool deck steps

Blessings, Beth Ann

Menu Plan Monday ~ Leptin update

Good Monday morning all. We had a stormy week-end, but now a new day is upon us. I kicked off last week by going in and having lab work run for my 6 month med. review. I ended the week with a stellar lab report! I wish I had one of those photographic minds, so as to share all the numbers with you, but alas I don't. So here is the good news from doc. appt. in a nut shell. I have been following a leptin/lo-carb diet since the middle of Nov. 2009. I had a doc. appt. in Dec. of '09 that showed some good news, but this last one was the kicker. Since Dec. I have lost 43 lbs (woo- woo!) and cut my triglyceride level in half! I now have good cholesterol : ) I must confess that trying to come up with something my chronically ill son can eat and watching Michael Pollan's Food, INC. has helped keep me motivated! At my house we are at the point that I make everything from scratch, and I mean everything! I make my own coffee creamer, my own BBQ sauce, use only spelt flour in any baking (muffins, pancakes, etc.), well you get the point. The kid can't eat anything and I WON'T eat just anything now that I know what is in processed food and how the animals are treated and processed. So . . . with that said, here is a look at this weeks leptin/low-carb menu for our home:

Monday: Turkey meatloaf w/broccoli

Tuesday: Zucchini pancakes w/grilled chicken

Wednesday: Bacon and Salmon casserole w/green beans (didn't make last week)

Thursday: Beef stroganoff (no noodles, make cauli-rice)w/Brussels sprouts

Friday: Crock pot chicken w/mixed veggies

Saturday: Salmon seashell pasta salad (use brown rice pasta) on Boston lettuce

Sunday: Stuffed peppers (red, yellow or orange - son can't eat green)

For more MPM visit www.orgjunkie.com

Whats for dinner at your home this week?

Blessings, Beth Ann

knitting

Here is a quick look at what I'm working on with my needles : )

I taught myself how to knit in the round using 4 double pointed needles, and I LOVE it!

The first thing I am making are wrist warmers. Think mittens with no fingers, only a thumb hole. Great for driving. Everyone seems to love them and I am committed to at least another 4 pair and a lady at my book club offered to buy the pair I showed her. Hope the thrill doesn't wear off soon : p

Another look at the finished wrist warmer (second one almost done - tonight I think). I will get a model to show them off and post a pic. The pink yarn is for a shrug I am working on also. Think mini sweater with just the sleeves : )

Here is my finished Christmas baby bib for new grand baby, boy or girl! LOL I already made a matching wash cloth and plan to make a burp cloth with remaining yarn.

I was going to say sorry about blurry pic's, but thought whatever, you get the gest.

Blessings, Beth Ann

Bed time for twins

A couple days ago I finely convinced hubby (his day off) that today was a good day to get the bunk beds ,we had bought the twins two months ago, out of the garage and upstairs in the nursery. However, before that could happen they had to be assembled (of course). I decided to not feel guilty about taking an afternoon of school off to do this. I chose to look at it as valuable learning tool for my youngest three children ( oldest son was at work). After all, am I the only one who remembers doing the electives class shuffle at school? We all got a turn at wood shop, home ec. and music to name a few. So here is a brief look at their afternoon as they learned to: listen, follow directions, take turns, work together, learn about tools and there uses, math, reading directions, patience, doing for others, work ethic,and more. So I let dad be the teacher and I took these pics . . .



B not having an easy time working the screw driver

Dad with his little helper, E loves power tools : )

Now B has the hang of it, and a helper too.

Dad putting the finishing touches on.

Twin son E, he is happy to be the first to try out the top!

The girls are exhausted, but happy ( so are twin sons toes on the ladder) : )

And here is what the dogs were doing while the rest of us toiled (other dog went to work with son and who knows where the cats got to).

So it's a done deal, my babies are now officially in reg. beds. That night as I lay in bed and mulled it over, the passing of time, it was a bit sad. I guess I could write an entire blog on feeling old, watching the kids grow, being worried that I can't remember all the stuff they did as babies . . . But I am choosing to move forward and just try to live each day for it's own joy and remember at night when I go to bed, to give all the glory to God.

Blessings, Beth Ann

Menu Plan Monday

Good Monday morning all : ) It was a warm and sunny week-end here in middle TN. Hope everyone had a great time. Here is a look at my lo-carb/allergy free menu this week:

Monday: Good Shepard's Pie (made with ground lamb -marked down after Easter- and whipped cauliflower instead of potatoes)

Tuesday: Chicken and artichoke skillet casserole

Wednesday: Shrimp Pad Thai (made with spaghetti squash instead of noodles)

Thursday: Crock Pot Rotisserie chicken w/ mixed green beans

Friday: Beef and Pineapple kabobs w/brown rice and mixed veggies

Saturday: Curried Turkey meatloaf w/broccoli

Sunday: Jambalaya (made with turkey sausage)

Whats for dinner at your home this week? For more MPM visit www.orgjunkie.com

I also wanted to share a couple of great kitchen news items with you today. As most everyone knows by now, we are getting pretty picky about what food we buy due to oldest son Fibro and food allergies. Also, ever since we watched Food,INC there has been no looking back and no compromising on food quality. So to be able to afford any of this I always shop my Kroger (only store in a 50 mile radius that cares healthy items) at 8:30 a.m. every Friday morning, that is when they mark down all (and I do mean all) perishables. Kroger has had Laura's lean ground beef on special all this month, so I have been stocking up on it all month. This past Friday we hit the jackpot, they were marking down the already on sale Laura's! So we took all they had for only $1.49 a lb. : )

I want to share this cool gizmo with you too, some of you probably already have this; an oil mister. I ordered mine from AMAZON.com and it was on back order forever. Anyway, I had stopped buy pan spray (for many reasons) and was using my olive oil or butter for greasing everything. I found putting the oil in a dish and using a basting brush was best, but this is better! I buy the jumbo olive oil in a can at Kroger, so I now keep a smaller pour bottle filled and now my mister filled from it. It is great for a quick spray on a baking pan, casserole dish or even cheese under the broiler : ) You just pump it up and let the pressure do the work. This I learned the hard way as it wasn't printed on the box and I thought it had arrived broken at first. Once you figure it out though . . . This kitchen gadget rocks!

Blessings, Beth Ann

Knits & Bits

TGIF all : ) Another sunny day in the upper 80's here in middle TN. A little rain for the garden would be good, but not worried yet.
Just thought I would pop in with a couple updates. Yesterday I drove with big son, might not ever happen again! My shoulder is bruised from my seat belt and all his sudden 'stops' ~ ugh. The kid needs practice. I am so glad the number of required driving hours increased before teenagers get their licences.

I am also currently trying to talk big son into trying the chiropractor and or acupuncture for his Fibro. The meds. the neurologist gave him are not helping and he still has a couple weeks before his next appt. I have read that acupuncture has had good results in Fibro people. I just get so concerned for Z. He worked Mon. and Tue. and was sooooooo sick Wed. (this is typical). He was so weak that he had a hard time getting out of bed and walking. At one point his feet shot out from under him and he fell and hit his head. He said that didn't help his 15 month migraine one bit! : P

I finished yet another knitted scarf, part of my stock pile for selling at craft shows/fairs. I am hoping to have quiet a little stash by the time all the Christmas shows start. I thought this was like a rock start scarf, the older kids said it reminded them of Halloween because of the colors I chose.

It has a two tone rust color and black fringe

Can you see the metallic shimmer?

Next I am finishing up a Christmas bib for the new baby and starting some wrist warmers (the new rage) knitted in the round on 4 double pointed needles. It is dicey to say the least, hope I get use to it. I picked up a cool free pattern at Hobby Lobby today, for knitted camo cargo pants. They had Bre written all over them. They will make great jammy pants : )

Blessings, Beth Ann

Outside

Another warm and sunny day in middle TN. After I did home school with the twins in the a.m., I spent the rest of the morning gardening while hubby fixed the washing machine (drat). Here are some pic's to share with you:

This is the outdoor candle/wind chime thingy hubby bought me. I think I am going to buy some of those flame less tea candles to use in them so they won't be a fire hazard to our home : )

Here is one of the two apple trees I splurged on this year, already flowering!

I got my seed starters going today: first off are all my squash and gourds. Next batch will be pumpkins.

One of my few remaining azaleas, in bloom.

This lilac bush is in front of my living room window. I planted it 5 years ago when it was a small stick. I love watching things grow . . . must be why I have so many children : )

Here is one of the two cherry tree's we had planted about 3 years ago, to replace some dead maples in our front yard. This is the first year they have flowered.

Here is a long shot of the azalea bush. Those plants behind it are more lilac bushes we planted two years ago, they were a gift from a friend.

One more look at my largest lilac bush and my front porch : )

Blessings, Beth Ann

MeMe Monday

Monday, April 12, 2010

MeMe Monday - Movies

Name a film that you have seen more than 10 times. While you were sleeping. I used to watch it every Christmas eve with my oldest dd while we wrapped gifts. Now I watch it every year with middle dd : )

Name a movie that you’ve seen multiple times in the cinema. E.T. I loved that movie!

Name an actor that would make you more inclined to see a film. Nicoles Cage, I really enjoyed both his National Treasure movies. Oh, and Family Man, Knowledge, Rumble Fish . . . LOL

Name an actor that would make you less likely to see a film. Brad Pitt, he has the talent of a pineapple. I can't think of one single movie of his I liked and don't even get me started on the fiasco of Meet Joe Black; a remake of Death takes a Holiday - yuck!

Name a film that you can and do quote from. ELF, "Son of a nutcracker!"

Name a film musical that you know all of the lyrics to all of the songs. Do Disney movies for the kids count? I can sing Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid; front words and back! Oh, here's and adult one, Mama Mia! I use to have all those old ABBA songs on cassette : )

Name a film that you would recommend everyone see. Fast Food, INC. You'll never look at what you eat the same way again!

Ever walked out of a film? Not that I recall, but I did only watch about 5 minutes of one I rented a couple months ago and turned it off in disgust. I believe it was called, "Year One", or something like that. It stared Jack Black and lets just say . . . Blasphemy and . . . well that is the best I can say.

Name a film that made you cry in the cinema. E.T. I really thought he was going to die. Hey, I was only 13 when that hit the theater.

Popcorn? Not anymore. If I'm home I just try to keep my hands busy knitting : )

How often do you go to the cinema (as opposed to renting them or watching them at home)? Never? I think the last time was like 3 years ago as guests of friends. We mostly just rent from Netflix. We do go to the drive in that we have here in town, maybe twice a year. Just to expensive.

What’s the last film you saw in the cinema? Saw "Fireproof" with a group of friends. But we did go to the drive-in last week with the kids and caught "How to train your dragon" and "Percy Jackson: lightening thief".

What’s your favorite/preferred genre of film? Comedy or Christian. Life is just to depressing to wast it on anything else.

What’s the first film you remember seeing in the cinema? My mom took me and my sister to see Cinderella. I remember that we sat in front of the crying booth (old theater) and all I heard was the babies crying.

What film do you wish you had never seen? Yentel, that is 3 hours of my life I will never get back.

What is the scariest film you’ve seen? I am legend. I couldn't even watch the end. Anything like that, where it could actually happen, is creepy bad. Husband tells me though that it was a remake of the movie Omega man, and like most things, the original was better.

If you could be any character portrayed in a movie, who would it be? Wow, that is hard. I'm having enough trouble with my own life! Hmmmmmm . . . Lucile Ball in the Long, Long, Trailer. Those were good times : )

Total number of films you own on DVD and video. Again, do Disney films count or are we talking me personally? I have an impressive start to a Christmas movie collection, then there are the movies that my older children jacked from me to factor in . . . I guess a ball park number would be . . . 3 dozen?

Last film you bought. I know this is repetitive but for me or the kids? LOL For me, The Outsiders. What can I say, a trip down memory lane. My middle dd loved it and ended up reading all of S. E. Hinton's books! Oh, but she jacked that movie from me : (

Last film you watched. Rumble Fish with middle dd, now you understand?

Five films that mean a lot to you. 1 ~ ELF, I even have the sound track. Guaranteed to put a smile on my face and Christmas spirit in my heart.

2 ~ Even Almighty, love the biblical accuracy through the movie and who can forget the acronym: ARK - changing the world starts with one Act of Random Kindness.

3 ~ Steel Magnolias, the very epitome of southern culture and what true female friendship is all about.

4 ~ Yours, Mine and Ours (the original with Henry Fonda and Lucile Ball). The first blended family and they also took a stand and made it OK for couples to have large families. They show how a marriage should work.

5 ~Any animated Scooby -Doo cartoon! Need I say more? If you know me at all, well then you know - LOL

What are your favorite movies?

Blessings, Beth Ann

School and stuff

Wow, it's been a bright and beautiful week-end here in middle TN. Getting yard work done, little by little. Yesterday morning however was given up to running big son into the 'city' so he could take his ACT's. Man that makes me feel old. It is also why he needed to hurry up and get this . . .

You need a photo I.D. to take the test, and our satalite school doesn't issue picture school I.D.'s. Well big son walked out of those tests a bit more unsure than he went in : ) He was pretty cocky, so I am thinking this is a good thing. Truthfuly, Z's poorest effort is still probably better than my best ever was. The kid is bright.

Here is another random pet pic to distract you . . .

Here are two of our cats sharing a patch of sunlight yesterday. Tina, the white cat, and Bubbles (the paralyzed cat) in a rare moment of unity.

And last but not least, here is Z's best friend already for prom. Cannon County Junior/Senior Prom was last night. Z couldn't go since he is techniclay registard in Hedersonville (that is where our satalite school is). I think N looks swell though. This kid has had a rough home life and spends more time at our home than his, he has his own bunk : ) I am so proud of how he is maturing (sometimes against his will).

Is pink back in? LOL

Blessings, Beth Ann

Look out on the roads!

Well big son is feeling a bit better today and went bright and early down to get his driver permit. I am so excited and proud. Trust me, he was smiling too, but stopped when the camera came out. Guess he didn't want to look like a goober out in cyber space - LOL



Not to change the subject, but it will. Here is a pic of a baby blanket I just finished knitting. Not sure for who yet, as dd has no idea what the baby is yet and that is fine. Maybe I will make one in pinks too and send both? Not sure this is my favorite pattern, so next one will more than likely by slightly different.

Blessings, Beth Ann

Stuff

Just a middle of the week check in. Z is having a bad day today. Poor kid. He only works 3 1/2 days a week, but that is all he can handle. He spends all his time home recovering from working, it's a vicious circle. Twin dd isn't feeling well either, cold I think. Hard to tell with everything blooming and all the vehicles covered in yellow pollen.

Well we went to put a bid on the farm, and someone already beat us to it. Now we are waiting to see if their contract is accepted or not, could be a few days. Will keep you posted.

Not much else happening. DH had to replace my starter last night, in my Durango. So that is delaying our starter plants one more day, but I did remember to pick up the potting soil! Now if I could remember to mix the mulch up . . . I am going with dried coconut shell this year, and has to be moistened in a 5 gallon (comes in compressed bricks) bucket and then spread. I also picked up some seaweed fertilizer as well. So hoping for good things this year. Now wondering if I have room to add some butter lettuce and sweet potatoes?

Here is a random pet pic to keep you entertained:

This is Zoey, she is Z's dog and this is how she sleeps all the time, well maybe not with twin ds blanket, but you get the idea. She snoars like a bulldozer too!

See, even Howard (mini doxin) can't believe how she is sleeping!

Blessings, Beth Ann

Monday after

Happy day after Easter, hope all is well. We had a great Resurrection Sunday here in middle TN. It was sunny and in the 80's, might be time to get the air conditioners out : ) We went to church up in Triune (up by Nashville) to hear our friend preach the sermon and stayed for the fellowship lunch afterwords. On our way home we got off the expressway and headed south to take the kids to look at a property that DH and I had found. We have been looking for some acerage off and on for the past couple years, and this one might be it. It's a five acre farm with a big house built in 1920 (I LOVE older houses), two fenced in pastures, chicken house and large animal stalls, and a small pond in one of the pastures. There is a garage, Florida room and huge machine shop on the property as well as an almost new mobile home. I will see if I can get a link downloaded here soon. We need to sell this place in order to buy that one, so keep us in your prayers. Any way, we came home and spent the early evening pulling weeds in the flower beds (expecting my starter plants delivered today)and mowing the grass with our rotary mower (the kids aren't feeling it yet). Then I got some calls from family, my mom and oldest dd (who is feeling very pregnant). We topped it off with watching the movie 'Astroboy'. Was even able to sleep with windows open last night. What more could one ask for?

Last Friday (DH had a 3 day week-end) we took our four kids and two of their friends to the drive-in for their opening night. It was sooooo packed, line out to the street and past the Sheriff Dept. Saw many folks we knew and the food was good. We stayed for the double feature (get out 50 bucks worth) and didn't get home to almost midnight. Both movies were based on books, blessedly I had read neither : ) "How to train your dragon" was an animated film and very good. The twins loved it and can't stop talking about it (either can DH). The second feature, "Percy Jackson and the lightening thief" was a typical teen movie where they save the day. Oldest son had read that book and couldn't stop talking about it, to tell me all the major differences - LOL Anyway, I would recommend both movies and the drive - in as well, great way to spend some family time : )

Blessings, Beth Ann