Applesauce, Books & the Park

Daddy was out of town, but the kids and I had a fun weekend anyways!

Apples galore have been piling up with our weekly co-op basket. Mostly Gala, Fuji and some Ambrosia.  We have committed to ordering only the organic basket which is a little more expensive- but the quality, taste is SO GREAT!

So before all of those apples went bad, we kept about 10 out for lunches and snacks and took the rest to make applesauce with which the kids have been wanting to do for weeks. So after reading so many 'recipes' I really I suppose didn't realize how simple it could be. A few modifications because unfortunately I don't have any good kitchen appliances like a food processor.

So, first I skinned half the apples and left half the apples with skins, cutting them into pieces. Boiled a pot of water and the kids loaded them in...

Next the kids had fun loading them into my mini-blender (yeah I don't even have a full size one!) adding a little water and blending them up! Then they went back into a pot on the stove for a taste test to see about this adding sugar thing- some recipes said to add cinnamon and sugar but our apples were sweet enough we didn't need sugar. Then after the kids scooped up a bowl full I let them add their own cinnamon to it!

My crazy kids loved it and had fun too with conquering 'simple' applesauce together! 6 small apples and 4 medium sized apples yielded a bit more than the quart jar above.

We also took a trip to the Library- each of us carrying 2 BAGS of books to two different libraries- yeah our family loves to read.
Here's what our 1st grader is reading...

Here's what our 6th grader is reading...

And of course Mommy picked up a couple too..

We also had a trip to the feed store checking out ducks, geese, chickens, rabbits and other small animals.

And a bit of play time at the park to finish our day....and while they played I got a few minutes of quiet reading time in- then I ran around with them too! 

As for Sunday? A little bible study, some cleaning house and a lot of relaxing before Monday hits us!

Thankful Thanksgiving

There are so many wonderful things to be thankful for.  But I'd have to say the biggest one for me is family- my children and husband are the world to me and I couldn't imagine what my life would be without them. I feel very blessed.

Thankful for a home, roof over our heads, enough food for our bellies, daily phone calls with my mom my best friend, FB for keeping me connected to friends and family so well after our move so that I don't miss everyone quite so much, quiet fires at night sitting reading with my husband, dirt roads and country drives exploring, my children's laughter and smiles, that the kids are growing into such wonderful 'people', new friends, a job that's truly made me feel meaningful and that I'm making a difference in others lives, god and prayer, and soooo much more....the list goes on and on when you really sit down and begin to think of all the things in your life you are thankful for.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE

Quick Trip & More home made items!

Hubbie is totally on board with the home made stuff...he agree's the laundry soap gets 5 stars! Here's what's new around the house on the 'home made' front....

Dishwasher Detergent
Hubbie used borax, washing soda and citric acid  - we have hard water and the dishes come out clean and not spotty!
homemade-dishwasher-detergent-rinse-agent

Face Powder
I've decided to replace my 'covergirl' face powder and go home made- hubbie looked this one up and found that corn starch and green clay work well but that if you don't need your skin evened out that just corn starch will do to take care of the oily skin throughout the day...So far so good, I have fair skin and no red/blotchyness so right now the corn starch alone is super, and I don't use a foundation so just a little coverage to hit the oily spots really does the trick...
homemade-natural-face-powder-recipe


We took a quick trip over the weekend to see family and headed to the zoo. Even though we have been just about a million times, it was nice to let the kids take pictures of their favorite animals and they both want to frame a few too for their rooms...

And this is what happens when you leave the children unattended with the dog....poor thing gets treated like a 'baby' doll! Pillow, blanket, teddy bear and all!

Family Saturday

A wonderful family Saturday....Pick up of our fruit and veggie basket, a pizza lunch- kids had free pizza coupons from school for reading awesome for the whole month then a little road trip, some crafts when we got home and bbq chicken with zucchini and pasta for dinner! 

A road trip with some rainy weather and some cows roadside...

Then an awesome find...my husband totally wanted it!!

An early b-day present for hubbie:

Picked up our weekend fruit/veggie co-op basket and choose ALL ORGANIC this time- looks fantastic!!

And started some crafts when we got home...going to be a turkey pot centerpiece for Thanksgiving and my daughter is working on a flower bouquet.

No pick of dinner but hubbie outdid himself on the grill as always and dinner was fantastic!!

Oh and my 'office' is getting a make-over...still work in progress...

It'll get there someday!! Blessed with such a wonderful day spent with the ones most important to me.

Nothing Important but a nice day off

Although it feels like I did nothing important on my day off, I got plenty done. And even had some time to relax and catch up on my favorite blogs and found some cute craft idea's I'm excited to try out.

I'm wanting to make a Fall or Christmas Wreath this year...click the link for directions/blog-
Cozy Fall Yarn Wreath


A trip to the newly remodeled library in town and came home with a few new books...
What I'm reading now...loving the homemade book-
My next homemade adventure is going to be making face powder to replace my current "Covergirl" pressed powder!

One step at a time attempting to get our home clean and in order- being that we recently moved, I am realizing that one step at a time and one room at a time is really how its going to go- not happening over night but I'll get there...so for today, working on my office/desk space- cleaning, organizing and getting some decor idea's online. I got some scrapbook paper and material to make lettering and found my new large bulletin board that had been hiding amongst boxes...now to get crafty this weekend!

Hey improved a bit from last month when we moved in...BEFORE....yeah the wood desk hidden in the corner? Yeah, there's still some boxes but at least my desk is unburied!

And last dinner....ahhhh dinner- SUCCESS measured by the kids eating seconds and thirds...crock pot, BBQ Pork...made Pulled Pork Sandwiches- YUMM!