People.

Each winter our family gets out a card table and begins work on a puzzle or two. This year I bought one at the Goodwill that was 750 pieces, 22" x 22", and a watercolor type painting of a florist's shop. It was beautiful with all the pinks, reds, greens, and white.  It was very challenging, but really enjoyable to sit with one or two of  the kids and chat while we pondered the pieces.

There is a special place in hell for people who donate puzzles to the Goodwill with a piece missing.

We finished the puzzle, except for the red and white awning piece, noticeably missing from the top center.  We promptly ripped the whole thing into eight large pieces still conjoined and put it in the burnables bin - off to the burn barrel tomorrow.  That's one less person to burn in the fiery place, and one puzzle that should have burned weeks ago!

We'll begin again on a new puzzle tonight or tomorrow, with high hopes that all the pieces are present and accounted for.

Momma's Always Right

Yesterday, the day after Thanksgiving, all I heard from the children was, "That was the BEST Thanksgiving EVER!"  I don't do favorites - I just like to keep wrapping up excellent things, like friends and recipes, in one big ball of "GREAT", not 'Best', but I'd have to agree that Thanksgiving was extra special this year.

My big brother, his wife, and family came over, picking up Grandma Betty on the way.  My mom, G. B., does almost all the cooking and insists on it being this way.  I certainly don't put up much of a fuss, since she is an excellent cook.  She's been taking up space in the big ball of GREAT Cooks for a long time now. The van load of people and food arrived right on time and we set up a huge buffet.  After giving thanks we proceeded through the line, five OLDEST to two youngest to starving teenage/adult offspring was the order.  Everyone should try this at least once.  We married adults, and the excellent cook, actually got first dibs on the food for the first time in over twenty years!

My daughter Autie has more pictures on her blog!

After eating and laughing, with EMT Ella at hand for the inevitable choking scenario, the big game was turned on downstairs.  From the shrieks we ladies overheard, we ascertained a loss for the Lions and many bad calls by the refs.  The game inspired a flag football game of our own outside.  My brother, hubby, and I, plus Anders and Laney, 9 and 7, against the SEVEN teen/adult offspring.  These young people wanted us to pay.  Pay for what?  I guess for giving them life, liberty, an education....not sure, actually, but they wanted us not just beaten, but demoralized.  As stacked as the young team was, we put up a good fight, actually scoring and holding them to a slim win.

Then back inside we went to graze on cookies, pies, fruit, coffee, punch, rolls and, of course, turkey and ham. More chatting and laughter and some help from my sister-in-law to complete a puzzle with which we were struggling.  Laney got her annual tickling by her uncle.  My brother only has sons - big, tall, All-Guy sons - so he adores little Laney, his sweet niece.  She adores him, too.  But this year I had clued her in to how I had dealt with my brother when he had tortured me with tickling.  Chin him!  Sneak up from behind, stealthily, grab him by the arms and drive one's chin into his shoulder a few inches from his neck.  He hates that!  So she did just that, and his reaction was perfect!  A little seven-year-old making him squirm!

My mom, who has had cataract surgery and can see really well now, looked around our house and gave it the thumbs up for cleanliness. Seriously.  She's Dutch, and I know the inspection will commence whenever she comes over.  We were ready.  But before the cataract surgery, I must admit, I didn't rush to dust or vacuum because she couldn't see it!  She was actually legally blind, which is really sad, because the stinker still drove! But we got her approval on Thanksgiving.

The previous post on this blog is about a favorite corner cupboard in our dining room.  Before mom left, she said again how nice our house looked, to which I thanked her.  Then she shifted her weight uneasily and looked around guiltily and said, "But do you want to know one thing I'd do?"  I nodded eagerly.  Mom is always right, you know.  "I'd get rid of that thing, for sure,"  she said as she pointed to the corner cupboard!  

What?!  My find?  My sweet deal?  Well, that thing is getting a paint job for sure now!  Or maybe a new home.  We'll see.

A little paint

Garage sales are a lot of fun.  But so are resale shops.  I've been more faithful to the resale shops than the garage sales in the past year, sadly, just due to being busy most mornings.  Garage sales close pretty early, it seems, or the good stuff is gone right away.  But there are still things at the resale shops in the afternoons!

Last spring I found a corner cupboard used and for a deal.  It has some dated hand painted flowers along the top, but I like it the way it is.  I don't have the heart (YET) to paint over some nice lady's work.  However, the inside was painted cream, like the outside, and it needed a little something.  Since one of our focus walls is painted Fandango Red, I thought I'd try that to give the inside some punch.

It was a really easy way to tie it into the rest of the house's decor.  Someday this winter I'm sure I'll break down and repaint the whole cupboard.  But for now, it'll do.

Plates and chickens back inside.
I might line the doors with chicken wire
if I repaint the whole thing.

Before second coat.

I think the color is good.

Animal Advocacy

Having teenage daughters is old news.  Eight years now we've endured the ups and downs of this phase.  The teenage boy is a completely different animal. And I use the word animal purposely. Let's see - rooster, ape, monster, stubborn bull, goat, buck - all nouns that come to mind when observing my oldest son. Now, make no mistake, I am an animal lover.  Always have been.  I love that guy with fully a seventh of my heart.  Ok, more than that, but I do have seven here in the house to love.

This weekend, with the blessing of unbelievably gorgeous weather, we wandered outside to putter.  Does anyone know what puttering is?  I come from a long line of putterers.  Professional putterers, if you will.  So after puttering for a while, it was clear that puttering was not going to exhaust the ____________  's  (insert animal type here) energy, so father/senior ___________  (insert same animal name here, but picture a fully grown version, bulky and handsome, smart and entertaining, able and accomplished - unlike the junior version) decided to "take the junior down."

This is a game repeated often here.  It always goes the same.  The results are identical.  Yet it goes on and on.

Junior:  "You're weak."
Senior:  "Oh, yeah?"  chuckle chuckle
Junior:  "Yeah!"  grunt puff
Senior:  "So you think you can beat me?"  just chillin'
Junior:  "Uh, YEAH, no Question!!"  beats chest
Senior:  "Bring it."  yawning
Junior:  "Argh, grunt, umph..." flailing wildly, exerting
Senior:  "Are you even trying?" still yawning and stretching
Junior:  "AAAAAAiiii"  war cry, rebel yell
Senior:  "Hmmm, did a fly land on me?"  quite passive really
Junior:  "RRRRRGGGGG"  actually struggling
Senior:  "MMMmmm, well, you're getting stronger I think...."  reads paper off to side

So this day, more of the same.  But football.  Oh football.  If only I had known when I brought home the Tebow book that football would become a theme of manhood around here.  I brought the book home as a biography about a godly guy, homeschooled, and obviously with a work ethic to be imitated.  Not sure if boy/man caught any of that stuff, but he sure locked onto the football stuff.

Senior got up, brushed himself off, the clear victor.  Did junior give up?  Of course not.  We wouldn't want him to!  (Well, some days we would.)  And the really neat thing is that that man of mine told me that that boy of ours really is getting stronger.  He's actually wondering how much longer he will be able to take him down. It might be a sad day when junior does finally whoop senior. But just another phase, another season.  Kind of like when my daughter made a better pie than me.  We deal with it, and are actually really proud of them.

Laundry Soap the Duggar Way

I really enjoy the show 19 Kids and Counting.  The Duggar family really is one lovely example of family-life gone right. Because of the numbers, Michelle, The Mom, Duggar, offers tips on how to save money on the homefront.  One is a recipe for inexpensive laundry soap.

I altered the recipe to my liking and have used it for the last couple years.  Obviously I like it or I wouldn't go to the trouble of grinding, melting, mixing, and hauling the five-gallon buckets.  The quality of the detergent is good, and it saves a little money.  I rarely bought Tide, but if one compares the homemade to the price of Tide, then it is 3/4 less!  But I love suds, so I buy whatever cheapie detergent is offered (usually I stock-up when they are $2 or so) and add a little to get more suds; plus the fragrance is a nice addition.  I also add Tea Tree Oil and Lavender Oil to the detergent that I make - the first for more cleaning, the second for the smell!

This is the recipe from the Duggar's website:  my additions are in Blue

4  Cups - hot tap water   ( 1/2 full pasta pot)
1  Fels-Naptha soap bar  ( I use 2 bars of Fels-Naptha and 2 Bars of Ivory; just better and still inexpensive)
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*  ( I use 2/3 c. washing soda)
½ Cup Borax ( I use 2/3 c. 20 Mule Team)

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.  ( I bought an old, small food processor at a resale for $3.  I recommend doing this since it gets so caked with soap - smelly soap.  I also don't stir continuously - I turn it to low and check it every few minutes so I can get more things done!)

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap (doing it my way, add 1/2 the melted soap, saving the 2nd 1/2 for the 2nd pail), washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. ( Then I do this again with the second 5 gallon pail) Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken. ( After it's cool, add the Tree Tee Oil and Lavender Oil, 15 drops or so each, stir again, then let sit overnight, covered.)

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)  ( I don't do this - I leave it in the 2 five-gallon pails with lids and scoop directly from those.)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads) (This is my machine, but I put in 2 cups! + the 1/2 capful of the store bought stuff; like I said, I like suds and super clean clothes.)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

The tiny grinder, FelsNaptha
and Ivory soaps.

Since our laundry room is pretty
secluded, I don't mind using these pails.
Stacked, they are easy to dip into.

Two bars of each, ground/shredded
and in the pot with 1/2 fill of water.

1/2 of the sauce pan of soap poured
into the pail, water added to the top, plus
the Borax and Washing Soda.
Stir well.

On low, stir every once in
the while until soap is
dissolved.

Cooling, waiting for the drops of
oil, then they'll be lidded and
carried down to the laundry
room; ready for use tomorrow.

This is the good stuff to
add to the pail of water
and soap, stirring to dissolve.

It helps to have Sir Buffness
to muscle the pail from
sink to floor.

The oils - added after it cools, but before it sets overnight.

Little Lass Laney's Lines

Oh, to be the youngest of six children! What a perspective that child has!  Laney keeps us on our toes.  She often has a twinkle in her eye and a mini-lecture on her lips.  And she's right about what she lectures more often than she's wrong! Being seven she's still easily tamed and quieted, though, at least by us parents.  The brothers have more of a tiger on their hands.  The best description of Laney is Spicy.  We love this little chili pepper - make that a jalapeno.

Laney:  Move your big hips. (to string bean Anthony)

(Laney preparing to wiggle, and possibly remove, a loose tooth....)
Laney (to all around her):  Stop moving and stay calm!

Cousin Mark: Laney it’s too bad I couldn’t take you for that backflip on the snowmobile.
Laney: I’m sure I would like it. Maybe next time.

Dad: Laney, eat your food.
Laney: I can’t eat another bite, my stomach’s distended

Autie:  Laney, here’s that picture I took of you trying to push over that pillar in Virginia.
Laney:  But I couldn’t do it.  I’m not Samson, even though I have long hair.

Laney:  We need to bring stretchy spongebobs to the softball game tonight.
Mom:  What?!
Autie:  Huh?
Laney:  You know, those stretchy things.
Autie:  Bungees?
Laney:  Yeah!

Laney: When can I get a new kitty?
Mom: It depends on when Fatty croaks. (our 15 year old cat)
Laney: But… I’ll be 19 when she doesn’t!


Laney: (speaking for Misty - the kitten we caved in and let her get) I’m allergic to pants.


Autie:  Laney, what did Pastor Jeff preach on today?  It started with an “M”.  Blessed are the...
Laney:  Meacemakers?

Autie:  I’m so glad I wasn’t born in the 2000’s.
Mom:  Why?
Laney:  Cause the MUSLIMS would KILL ‘ER!

Mom:  Laney, it’s 10 am and you haven’t eaten breakfast?  What have you been doing, girl?
Laney:  Made my bed.  Got dressed.  Then I roamed.

Mom:  Laney, quit crying over Belle!  She’s in doggie heaven!
Laney:  No she’s not, there’s no such thing!
Mom:  Well we decided there is.
Laney:  God is the decider.  Not you, Mom.  (nervous laugh)

Autie:  I was just watching Rob Bell’s NOOMA video about how the Holy Spirit could be a SHE?!
Laney:  A ‘SHEEP”?

(After Laney watched, then smiled warmly at an elderly man at a restaurant)
Laney:  (leaning toward Mom, looking earnest)  I love old men.  If I could, I'd scoop up all the orphans in the world and give each old couple one.....they'd just love them and love them.
Mom:  Would you give them the naughty children, too?  The ones that are high maintenance?
Laney:  Oh, no, I'd keep those for myself until I could train them to be good....then I'd give them to the old folks.
(Elderly man and his wife stop at the table and talk with Laney on their way out of the restaurant - surely they'd get the first orphan, if she had her way. :)  )

Girly Girl

There's a little, chubby boy playing on the floor with three dump trucks, two excavators ('cause that's what those things with the curled scoopy thing are really called), a bulldozer, and a handful of goldfish crackers, crumbs all about, and what do you hear?  "Well, isn't he ALL BOY?!"  Yes, he sure is.

Then there's the little, chubby girl pushing the plastic baby carriage full of beanie babies, fuzzy stuffed animals, and dolls with mashed and missing hair while teetering in Mama's heels and what do you hear?  (Yes, I'm not being tricksy.) "Well, isn't she a girly girl?!"  Mmm, yes she surely is.

That's what we got the first time around.  A girly girl.

Anyone who knows our oldest daughter, Phylicia, will now, once and for all, be able to fill in the blanks as to why she is the way she is.  A picture is worth a thousand words:

Cosmetology School 101

This is why she needed bunion surgery at 15.

Mouth open, fun being had, much to say and do!

Phylicia has her own big girl life now, at twenty-one, still primping and fussing, if she isn't jogging or hunting with a brother.  God knits them the way He wants them.  We wouldn't have it, or her, any other way.
We love you, Phylicia.

Wow, that's a lot of liquor!

When I came home with a pint and a half of Vodka and the same of Brandy, my family members were watching me suspiciously.  We don't have a lot of alcohol in the house.  Occasionally a bottle of wine - almost never anything stiffer.  So I'm pretty sure I was under close watch.

Before anyone could get too concerned, though, I mentioned that I was thinking about Christmas.  It was August.  But they're used to me being like that.  So I went on.  I had decided to make real vanilla extract, from the good stuff, as part of gift baskets this year.

Just google how to make real vanilla extract and you'll find one needs liquor.  Almost any cheap vodka will do, and I got brandy on the suggestion of one blogger.  One also needs vanilla beans, and since Amazon sells almost everything, maybe not a kidney yet, I checked there.  Yup.  Vacuum packed and shipped to our door - lovely, dark, shiny, fragrant, skinny vanilla beans.

Vanilla beans after extract had been poured off

Vodka base vanilla extract

These beans were split open and dropped into the vodka and the brandy.  One must pour off and do shots with ... wait, I mean, discard some of the excess liquor in order to fit the beans into the bottles.  I labeled the bottles as to the date that it all began, put them in a cabinet and tried to remember to shake them up daily.

Two months steeping is good, a little longer is even better.  I left them 9 weeks  then decided to pour the concoction through a strainer and check the results.  Oh, YUM!!  I've made cookies and two cheesecakes with the vodka steeped beans.  Superb.  The brandy steeped vanilla is richer, deeper in flavor.  Just different.  I might keep that for us - but I'll give some to our Baking Goddess neighbor for her thoughts on it.  If she gives it the go ahead then that vanilla will be in the gift baskets, too.

The beauty of this is not just the fun and the tension built by bringing home hard liquor. :)  It's that we are left with a LOT of vanilla and it didn't cost as much as the little bottles at the store.  My frugal mom never bought real vanilla extract - imitation was good enough for her and our family.  Well, I'll admit to disdaining that stuff, but as a good daughter, I really never enjoyed spending the cash for the real stuff, either.  So, tying this project to Christmas and being able to gift them, plus having some left for us, pleases me.

P.S.  The verdict is in from Baking Goddess next door:  she prefers the brandy-base vanilla!  So now I decide whether to include both in the gift baskets, or if just our favorite people get the best stuff. :)