Our Blessed Journey...

2012-02-11T17:42:00.000-05:00

Take some Bisquick mix and a bottle of beer, and you have some very tasty biscuits. Debbie contributed this recipe for biscuits, these are easy and make for a nice change over regular biscuits. I love to make these on the weekend, they also go well with a pot of chili.

Homemade Beer Biscuits

4 C. Bisquick mix
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 (12 oz.) can beer

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients together, and either drop or roll out and place onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown

Canadian Beer Cheese Soup

2012-02-11T17:35:00.000-05:00

Le Cellier Canadian Beer Cheese Soup

Do not make this soup if you are in a hurry, you need to let the cheese melt gently into this soup, rushing through this soup will not give you good results. I normally do not make brand name suggestions, but I will here, if you can get Tillamook cheese, use this type of cheese. America’s Test Kitchen recommend this cheese, and I think they are correct about this being a tasty cheese. Do not try to save time and buy shredded cheese. An agent is placed on the cheese to keep it from sticking together, and it may not give you good results when you are trying to melt this cheese. Also, if you are not a beer drinker, or looking for a non-alcohol solution, please bypass this recipe, or realize the beer really adds flavor to this, and is a key ingredient. Now, get your arms ready, and let’s get ready to stir.
Yield: 10-12 servings
1/2 pound apple wood smoked bacon – sliced into small pieces
1 cup chopped red onion
1 cup thinly sliced celery
4 tablespoons butter
1 cup flour
3 cups low sodium chicken stock
1 pint of heavy cream
1 pound aged white cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon white pepper
1 teaspoon dry mustard powder Example of dry mustard powder
1 tablespoon Tobasco sauce
1 tablespoon Worchester sauce
1 bottle of quality dark beer ** see note

Open bottle of beer, and set on the counter so it will warm up if refrigerated. In a large stew pot, over low heat add sliced bacon. Do not try to brown the bacon, you want to release the fat from the bacon only. When a couple of tablespoons of fat have been released and the bacon begins to look cooked add the 4 tablespoons of butter. When the butter has melted turn heat up to low-medium setting and add chopped onion and celery. When the chopped onion begins to look translucent and the celery is tender add the 1 cup of flour. This will look crumbly, and may appear you have too much flour. Cook through for a couple of minutes, so the raw flour taste will be cooked out. Add chicken stock a cup at a time, stirring until the mixture looks thick and gravy like. Add the second and third cup of chicken stock stirring to incorporate each time. This mixture will look like a thick gravy now. Add 1/2 pint of heavy cream, and then stir until incorporated, then add remaining heavy cream and stir. Add grated cheese by thirds into soup, stirring until all of the cheese is fully melted. Add tobasco sauce, dry mustard, pepper, Worcester sauce, and stir until fully blended. Slowly pour in beer stirring until well blended. Serve soup immediately.

Notes on beer:
Use a good quality dark beer, brands/styles that I like: Shiner Bock, Saint Arnold’s Amber, Abita Beer Amber, any Oktoberfest style of beer.

Reheating notes: if you must reheat the soup, do so very gently over low on the stove, you may need to thin with milk.

Melting Pot Cheese Fondue Copy Kat Recipe

2012-02-11T17:30:00.000-05:00

Melting Pot Cheddar Cheese Fondue

Serves: 3-4
6 ounces medium sharp cheddar cheese
2 ounces Emmenthaler Swiss Cheese
4 ounces of Coors light
2 teaspoons chopped garlic
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons flour
2 teaspoons dry mustard powder

If you are using a fondue pot turn it onto medium heat, otherwise, use a double boiler to heat this mixture in. Place beer, garlic, mustard powder, and Worcestershire sauce, and combine well. Shred or cube all cheese, and toss with flour, coating cheese well. The flour will help thicken the sauce. When the beer mixture is warm add one third of the cheese into the mixture, and whisk very well. Once the cheese has been incorporated well, add second third of cheese, whisk in very well, and add in the remaining cheese and whisk until nice and smooth.

Now you can serve this fondue with lots of bread, I recommend pumpernickel, wheat, sour dough, I also love this with green apples. So you can be creative with this dish, serve what you enjoy. You must eat this dish in one setting, this doesn’t reheat well, nor does it do well if you make it in advance to eat later. So this is the fun type of dish you want to make on the spot.

If you do not wish to make this with beer, I can not give you a suggestion for the beer, other than a product like “O’Doules” or “Near Beer”. The beer flavor really adds a lot to this dish. Please do not serve this dish to people who do not drink alcohol. Alcohol really doesn’t fully cook out of cook of food alcohol burn off chart.

So enjoy one of my favorite romantic meals to share with someone.

While you don’t need this fondue pot to make fondue, making fondue with an electric fondue pot is a breeze.

Three Years Ago..,

2012-02-03T17:07:00.001-05:00

my now 8 year old, then 5 year old once asked:

"do star fish come from the sky?"

Little Angel turns 8!

2012-01-31T21:09:00.000-05:00

Kids in the Kitchen

2012-01-15T19:19:00.000-05:00

Homemade Greek Yogurt

2012-01-12T21:59:00.000-05:00

Greek yogurt:

1/2 gallon milk* – fat content of your choice (I used organic 1% milk)
2 to 3 tablespoons plain prepared yogurt (make sure it contains live, active cultures)
cooking thermometer
cheesecloth to fit 4 layers in a large strainer

To begin, pour all but 2 tablespoons milk into a double boiler or heavy-bottomed pan and turn the heat to medium. If using a double boiler, cover the milk. If the pot is directly on the burner, stir it and watch it very, very carefully so you don’t burn the bottom.

Heat the milk to 180 degrees F. It helps to have a candy thermometer so you can carefully watch the temperature, but when I went to fetch mine I remembered that the kids broke it the last time they made frosting so I used an instant-read thermometer instead.

Immediately remove the pot from the stove and carefully pour the hot milk into a glass or ceramic bowl or casserole dish. Put the dish on a cooling rack uncovered, and let the milk cool to between 105 and 110 degrees F. In our kitchen, this took about 50 minutes. (Note: remember to leave the dish completely uncovered at this stage, so the good bacteria from the air can start working their magic!)

Meanwhile, turn on your oven light. Just the warmth from the oven lightbulb will provide the perfect temperature for the organisms to make yogurt. Now, combine the 2 tablespoons of milk you saved with the prepared yogurt in a small bowl and reserve. Resist the temptation to add more than 3 tablespoons yogurt. According to the Joy of Cooking, “you may wonder why so little starter is used and think that a little more will give a better result. It won’t. The bacillus, if crowded, gives a sour, watery product.” I used 2 1/2 level tablespoons of prepared yogurt and the resulting yogurt was thick, mild and creamy.

Once the milk has cooled to between 105 and 110 degrees, add in the yogurt-milk mixture and stir well to combine. (Don’t forget this important step.) Put the lid on the casserole and cover it with a dishtowel. Put it in the oven, making sure that the towel isn’t near the oven lightbulb, and leave the oven light on. Leave the yogurt for 7 or 8 hours, or overnight.

In the morning, carefully take the dish out, unwrap it and remove the lid, and check to see whether the milk has turned to yogurt. I could hardly believe my eyes when I put a spoon into the mixture:

If your batch isn’t quite thickened, return it to the oven and check on it again in an hour. Once the yogurt is sufficiently thickened, you can stop at this stage if you want regular yogurt. Just stir the mixture and refrigerate it; you may need to pour off a little of the watery liquid. Don’t forget to turn off the light in your oven!

For creamy Greek yogurt, refrigerate the yogurt for at least two hours to allow it to completely cool and thicken. Line a large strainer with four layers of damp cheesecloth and find a bowl that the strainer will fit inside

Put the strainer inside the bowl and pour the yogurt in; refrigerate for one hour. Pour out the liquid that has accumulated in the bottom of the bowl; this is the whey – that’s right, the very same delicacy Little Miss Muffet ate while she was sitting on her tuffet. You can save the whey and use it for cooking (a common use is as a liquid in homemade bread recipes) or discard it. Return the bowl to the refrigerator for one more hour, strain the liquid again and the yogurt should now look thick and creamy – like this:

Spoon it into a container and refrigerate for up to six days.

I find most store-bought plain yogurt is too tart for my liking so I usually buy vanilla-flavored, but you’ll find this homemade yogurt has a very mild flavor. You can enjoy it as is, add some fresh fruit or jam, or do what we did and serve it with raw wildflower honey (we love Colorado-based Madhava Honey) and homemade granola.

Remember to save a couple of tablespoons of your homemade yogurt so you can use it as starter for the next batch!

thank you to: Happy Simple Living.

LIfe is Good

2012-01-12T19:08:00.000-05:00

My Parents Adopted Brie Today!

2012-01-10T14:47:00.000-05:00

Texting Shorthands for Musicians

2012-01-07T09:57:00.000-05:00

Sea World!!!!

2012-01-06T23:58:00.000-05:00

Thank you Grandpa and Grandma!!!!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T11:25:00.002-05:00

Ring Out The Old; Ring in The New--reflections

2012-01-01T11:12:00.002-05:00

photo taken from final hike of 2011

2011: This was a year of MUCH transition for me and my family. It was a year followed by much whirlwind of a previous year of travel, loss, and a strong desire to have that fresh start...and we did.....2010 didn't involve a whole lot of thinking and reflecting---we just went! And then 2011 arrived, we found ourselves feeling a little bit more settled in our new neck of the woods---but we still had the craziness of 2010 of having JUST relocated to a new state, far away from WI; moving into a pricey house rental situation, with our home in WI on the market...trying to get all of our house hold goods to catch up with us in SC....working with our wonderful (Thank GOD for her) realtor in WI, who went WAY beyond the call of duty to help us with the sale of our home...selling our home, finding a new home, buying a home---and 2011 hits...we are completely packed up...once again....then we hit Disney World to celebrate Little Angel's 7th birthday, then we come back, and then I bring my girls back to FLA to be with grandparents, so that we can close on our beautiful new home and move in, and install new flooring and get unpacked and settled in and....add to this, I traveled to WI twice (driving once by myself with two little girls), we hit OH once, we hit FLA a few times, a week in The Smokies.....J wound up working UNGODLY INSANE hours....basically as much as we love it here and are settling in nicely---2011 was a year of finding peace amongst the chaos.....

and then...the Winter Solstice Hit, and brought with us a fresh opportunity for us to completely reinvent our lives...the peaceful, nature-based, simplistic lives we have always so-desired! Most people would be fearful or upset by the changes coming our way...but not us....we are filled with nothing but complete gratitude!

And now...here we are, the much talked about and written about 2012!! This is my year of gratitude and creativity. And I truly am grateful! My 2012 Resolution: to be as In the moment, with Gratitude for each and every moment, as I can possibly be.

photo taken from first 2012 hike

Wishing all of you a blessed and peaceful 2012----filled with Love and Gratitude!

Piper's Birthday Hike

2011-12-29T10:54:00.000-05:00

Happy 3rd Birthday Piper!!

Another Angel to Watch Over Us

2011-12-26T10:24:00.000-05:00

We will love you and miss you sweet Babe

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T20:11:00.000-05:00

My Princess's New Art Studio

2011-12-23T13:26:00.000-05:00

2011-12-23T09:38:00.000-05:00

the girls want to know why their daddy named the wrench (he's using to assemble something), Allen?

2011-12-18T23:50:00.002-05:00

Another Community Choir Christmas Performance

2011-12-18T10:47:00.000-05:00

Including "Jingle Bells" and the the theme from "The Grinch," amongst a few other pieces.

Girls' Christmas Choir Concert

2011-12-17T10:22:00.000-05:00

Feeling Rather SUPPORTED in Some Recent Decisions:)

2011-12-15T10:45:00.001-05:00

I have made some recent decisions...to join the Savannah Winds, starting in January; and to start on a serious writing project...I have not thought about writing since my early to mid 20s. I have a long-term collaberative project to be done with my girls, and I even know what the first subject will be---because the signs keep coming to me, in dreams, visual side bars on my internet, emails...incredible! I'm very excited about this project! Also, just yesterday, my WI Reiki Master even happened to "mention" something about a publisher! SO......;)

The Girls Were Invited to a Royal Tea Party

2011-12-14T17:41:00.000-05:00

All I Want For Chrithmathh Ithhhh My Two Front Teethhh---it's official!

2011-12-08T17:53:00.000-05:00

This is VERY reminiscent of last Christmas:)

Christmas Season is Upon Us

2011-12-06T07:52:00.002-05:00

Sledding In Florida (as told by Fairy Girl)

2011-12-05T01:58:00.001-05:00

"Sledding In Florida"

(***All Names have been changed to protect the Innocent, as this short story is loosely based on actual events (This LINK takes you to the post that proves that yes, we indeed DID sled in central Florida ;)

It was Thanksgiving Day. We did not have dinner on Thanksgiving, because our daddy had to go to work. Once he got home, we went to bed, snuggling under the covers. On Friday we packed, loaded the car, and hit the road. We drove and arrived to Grandma and Grandpa's. We removed our bags from the car and took Pancake out of his kennel. Donald the Goofy went inside and hugged Pancake; he then took Pancake for a walk. Donald the Goofy (a.k.a. Daddy) and Pancake got lost. They called Cherry Berry (a.k.a. Mommy) to come rescue them. (please note: her favorite food is berries; she will eat nothing but berries). They return to grandma and grandpa's and have Thanksgiving dinner: turkey, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, gravey, cranberries (mommy ONLY ate cranberries), and pumpkin pie.

The next day, mommy and daddy surprised Kay-Lynn and Korea to take them to a Florida Christmas tree lighting festival. The girls are dressed in shirts, skirts, and flipflops. And then Mommy (who ate ALL the berries) announced: "We're going sledding!" (after she tries to get more berries). Kay-Lynn: "In Florida, that's CRAZY!" And, the girls really did go sledding in Florida----FOR REAL! And then, the snow melted all over Donald the Goofy.

We had Snow Much Fun!

The End

Angel's Paintings Have Suddenly Stepped Up to a New Level

2011-12-04T01:44:00.001-05:00

All I Want For Chrithmathh Ithhhh My Two Front Teethhh

2011-12-03T01:44:00.000-05:00

The Magician and Her Lovely Assistant

2011-12-02T11:04:00.001-05:00

So the girls decided to put together a magic show last night. Angel asked her daddy if he had a top hat (which he did not:). She looked really disappointed, so I suggested that we have a lot of construction paper, and she could make one; and she got right to work...and did a most excellet job! Then, the Magician and her Lovely Assistant went right to work, outfitting themselves and putting their show together. I think they actually accomplished everything in about 20 minutes, once the top hat was made.

And then, it was time for the show...in the audience, mommy and daddy! (I will admit I wasn't expecting a whole lot, but boy, the joke was on me!!!)

They had a Big Top style Magic show, with animated introductions, vocal circus music, beautiful and graceful moves from the lovely assistant, and entertainment (distractions) between acts. The first act was the disappearing Assistant (with the use of blankets and an ottomon and of course, the magician's cape.

Then, we had the magically-appearing scarves, bunches and bunches, tied together, pullled out of the magician's hat.

Then, the adorable bunny was pulled out of the hat. But there wasn't just one, the magician surprised the audience with THREE bunnies!!!

And, of course for the grande finale, the magician sawed her lovely assistant in half! (and then her lovely assistant got better, in case you were concerned:)

I seriously have to tell you, that I was genuinely impressed and entertained! Further, this is the kind of creativity that comes out of my girls on the days when I'm not "busying" them with school---exactly why homeschooling is so important to us!

p.s. I should mention, Angel Girl has been intrigued by the idea of magic for at least three years now, and has begged me to teach her magic. Three years later, I think she finally figured out I am not a magician, and she will need to develop her own talents. Hmmmmmm, this gives me some ideas for Christmas!

My Girls Have Decked The New Halls

2011-11-30T13:46:00.002-05:00

Thanksgiving Weekend

2011-11-29T10:19:00.000-05:00

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Friday:) Yes, Friday. Backtracking....when our little girls came, I will admit that it was a letdown for me that it was usually very difficult to spend holidays with all of their grandparents, together. J is from one state, I am from a different state...and both sets of parents ditch those states for the winter anyway! But the good news is, they ditch it for Florida! And guess what, we are now only two hours from the border of Florida, so my wishes came true---now we are able to spend every holiday with all the grandparents---my mom hosts Thanksgiving and Christmas, and J's dad and R host Easter (they live two hours from my parents). Anyway, it's just under a five hour drive from our house to my parents'...so rather than leave on Wednesday night after he gets home from work, we opted to leave Thursday, well, around noon (you know, after sleeping in, packing, loading the car, running a couple of errands, hot breakfast, cleaning up, playing with friends...ok, I think it's really cool (having come from so far north in Wisconsin that we can now say, ok, let's run down to Florida now; and it is no longer a major ordeal!)

So, we of course had dinner with my parents, J's dad and R, and close family friends who go back and forth between WI and Florida as well. As a side note, the actual Thanksgiving meal served ON Thanksgiving day was: brats, sauerkraut, veggie pizza and water melon:) Friday was of course a different story---oh and there was dessert, lots and lots of dessert!

Another favorite pastime in Florida, we picked Meyer Lemons...

And oranges....

LOTS AND LOTS of lemons and oranges; I am unable to distinguish them with absolute certainty:O

And of course we did some sledding, you know, because we were in Florida...and that's what Floridians do, after picking lemons and oranges.

In skorts and flipflops, of course.

At the town's tree-lighting ceremony we had a blast: carolers, crafts, musicians, dancers, food, rides, ponies, stilt walkers, sledding, etc etc---oh and I was talking to a couple of guys who had been playing Christmas Dixie (joking with them that they were lacking a clarinet, and they said they really were, the guy has never shown...and they offered me a spot:) anyway---turns out the tuba player's son is an economics professor at Atlantic Armstrong State University in Savannah, home of the Savannah Winds---the only group in the area...I've been going back and forth on joining because they are such a serious group---guess what...that was the straw that broke the camel's back...it's time...so I contacted the conductor and will join the group in January!! No more whining or bandless dreams:)

We decided to head out on Saturday so we could go home and deck the halls. Since it was only a five hour drive and it was only Saturday, we decided to go visit Amelia Island, via a very beautiful scenic route...the infamous Highway A1A...but on the way we decided to take the route to take us on the Ferry across the St. John's River...it took awhile...a long long while (because somehow, north of St. Augustine, we lost Highway A1A, found ourselves somehow no longer on it:O) and after ALL those hours in the car, we owed the girls a ferry ride...so, we found the ferry, after some backtracking....and enjoyed ourselves a THREE MINUTE FERRY RIDE!

We never made it to Amelia Island:/

BUT, there were pelians, LOTS AND LOTS of pelicans!!!

(and on the ferry, we were within two feet of the pelicans...guess what---THEY STINK!)

Photo Card

2011-11-28T11:00:00.001-05:00

Tree Of Whimsy Christmas

Turn your favorite photos into your favorite Christmas cards!

View the entire collection of cards.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T04:44:00.002-05:00

Featured Pieces from Our Gallery

2011-11-21T19:35:00.003-05:00

It's Almost Thanksgiving

2011-11-20T21:25:00.000-05:00

Dragonfly Whispers

2011-11-17T23:47:00.000-05:00

For anybody who may be interested, I have created a second new blog, Dragonfly Whispers ---one that will focus on spirituality---it will also showcase some of my beloved "energy/orb" photos which I take, often. Please feel free to follow along, if this resonates with you. Love and Light.

Creating Roots--Homeschool Family Trees

2011-11-16T22:09:00.000-05:00

Children's Community Choral Rehearsal

2011-11-15T19:31:00.002-05:00

Autumn Sunset

2011-11-14T17:28:00.002-05:00

The Good Willow Tree is the "Funnest" Tree House in the World!

2011-11-14T13:33:00.000-05:00

One day, Evelyn planted a seed. And Eva helped her. It took a whole year for the seed to grow. It grew into a beautiful willow tree. The girls made a tree house. They worked together!

Evelyn and Eva had a lot of fun hanging in the tree house. They pretended it was a robot tree house. Next, it became a princess castle. So they (naturally) needed some accessories in the tree house. The girls headed over to The Great Willow Store. There they found a sign that says, "Girls Only." Also, they found a little chocolate-maker. Since they found their treasures, they picked up lunch and brought it to their tree house. They dined on peanutbutter and jelly sandwiches and lemonade. Then they fired up the Little Chocolate Maker. OH OH!!! chocolate EXPLOSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! chocolate everywhere. So, they cleaned up (naturally tasting some of the mess along the way:)

The Girls decided to go home because it was getting dark. After a delicious cup of hot cocoa; followed by brushing teeth and jammies....Eva and Evelyn got under their cozy covers, fell asleep and dreamed of their tree house and more adventrues in it tomorrow.

the end

p.s. While they were sleeping, their Good Willow Tree and Tree House grew bigger and bigger and bigger...

Begging For Treats....Video of our Favorite Goat:)

2011-11-13T21:45:00.002-05:00

scene from Central FLA Zoo

Before and After Shots plus first fire in our new home!

2011-11-13T21:36:00.000-05:00

Witch Art

2011-11-05T07:35:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday My Beautiful Buddy Bear

2011-11-04T04:44:00.000-04:00

This photo was taken on Buddy's last birthday, with us. He had just turned eight. I don't think I'll ever get over losing him so young, but I am grateful, even though it was an extreme shock to me, that his passing was very quick...so quick it shocked the internal specialists how quickly he turned...and I credit the Reiki Healing he had been receiving...for a "comfortable" transition. I love you Buddy, and I'm so grateful for your continued presence in our everyday lives---you definitely make it known to us that you are still VERY much with us! Hard to believe you'd be 11 now, if you were still with us physically--which would STILL be too young, in my book. I don't think we're EVER ready.

Also, pictured next to Buddy, is our beautiful Cimba, who was with us for 16 wonderful years and left us a little over a year ago. We observe her birthday on November 2nd. Buddy's is November 4th. I know Cimba, Cookie, and Buddy--the dynamic trio, are having a blast together: stealing chewies from one-another, Cookie walking around with my mom's bra in her mouth:), Buddy and Cookie playing tug-o-war with a throw pillow, Cookie, Cimba and Buddy eating icecream...we love and miss you all of you!

Babe we love you too--happy belated birthday, as we celebrate yours in September...hope Kathy and Rondo spoiled you rotton while your parents ditched you for Jamaica!

Giggles...

2011-11-02T18:23:00.000-04:00

Happy Halloween!

2011-11-01T10:19:00.000-04:00

"First Halloween": (a short story written and illustrated by Fairy and Angel Girls)

2011-10-30T00:23:00.002-04:00

It was the day before Halloween. The girls were choosing their costumes. Evelyn wants to be a princess. Kate really wants to be a mermaid. And Mary really wants to be a mermaid. Eva doesn't know yet.

Evelyn: "how about a princess?"
Eva: "wow, that's a great idea!"
Evelyn: "do you like the idea?"
Eva: "yes, we will make it tomorrow. But first, we will have lunch before we decide how to make the costume."

The girls break for lunch together, and eat peanutbutter and jelly sandwiches, lemonade, and grapes.

After lunch, they start talking about Eva's costume.

Evelyn: "what about your costume Eva?"
Eva: "well, I want it to be sparkly and pretty and shiny---And I'll leave it all up to Evelyn."

The girls start talking about their trick or treat bags. Evelyn wants a ballerina bag. Eva wants a ghost bag. Kate and Mary are babies, too young for candy, so they don't need bags. They will be home with a babysitter.

The girls are sleeping over at Eva's house.

Eva: "Let's go sleep in the bonus room, so we don't wake the babies."

After a night of popcorn, pepsi's, and scary movies...before they knew it, it was morning! They wake up and start work on their costumes. Eva's mom calls them for breakfast: freaky fried eggs and scary pancakes and ghost bacon.

Back to the costumes. The girls were able to put together beautiful costumes!

And then it was lunch time (of course): pumpkin fries and pumpkin punch.

Now it's time to make the haunted food for their Halloween party: Haunted gingerbread house; mummy dogs; spider cake; monster cupcakes.

Then, they put their costumes on, to prepare for TRICK OR TREATING!

Eva's mom says: "it's only 6:30, it's not time yet!"
And the girls scream: "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" (because they can't go yet, and clearly they are excited).

So, the girls make up a trick or treat song and dance, til it's time to go...
when Evelyn's mom says: "7:00, time to go!" The girls went to the first house:

TRICK OR TREAT!

The Day Our House Flooded...

2011-10-28T22:59:00.003-04:00

It was a hectic moment in our lives, as is usually the case when we have visitors. We love having visitors, but I'm sure anybody with younger children will agree it throws your schedule/routine off a bit. Well, this time we were not quite with it, as J was not only turning 50 (maybe it's the beginning of "old" age throwing us off, ha ha:)...but, we just weren't thinking clearly, or paying close enough attention to the SLAP US IN THE FACE SIGNS which we were truly gifted! Anyway, without further adieu:

It was not just another Thursday night...it was the night preceding my wonderful husband's 50th birthday celebration. The only difference between this Thursday and any other Thursday in our lives was, not only were J's two sisters to arrive later that evening, but J was to LEAVE for work...just for one night, THAT night, he had to go in third shift to assist with some installations or something. The beauty of it is, he got Thursday and Friday both off, but of course the poor chap was exhausted...and unfortunately so was I...afterall, I'm the very spiritual one who's always on the lookout for Divine Signs and messages; right?!!

Well, that night, before J left and before his sis's arrived, I heard the washing machine panel light up and make its sound: "ding ding ding DING!!" as if I had turned it on and it was ready to be programmed for a load. I ran in there, and not only was nobody in there, but the washer door was open, as I usually leave it open if I've done a load recently, to air it out. Impossible! This had NEVER happened before, and has never happened since...except, one hour later...door open, it happened again: "ding ding ding DING!!" Once again, door wide open, nobody even in there (and you cannot start the washer or program it with the door open! Kind of a safety feature for a front loader:O) At that point, I literally looked at J and said: "gosh, it feels like some sort of Divine Message!"

Fast forward to Friday...J goes into work for third shift...J's sis's arrive....J comes home and gets maybe two hours sleep before we start giving his sis's the whirlwind tour of our beautiful neck of the woods; which of course when you visit Hilton Head, you cannot NOT go to the beach....which they did...which leads to wet bathing suits and towels. When we arrived home that evening, I instructed EVERYBODY to please leave all suits and towels on the laundry room floor so I could wash them. Which I did. We had a great day, but J and I were exhausted come the end of the day.

Fast forward to Saturday....next on the agenda, Savannah...but first, one of the persons realized he/she failed to give me a wet beach towel, and asked if I could please wash it. Having been caught up on all the laundry, and not really wanting to wash one lonely towel, I sent the girls upstairs to scrouge around for anything that could be washed with it...which they did. But, we were also leaving for Savannah for the day....me, trying to be all organzied, decided to program the washer to go off eight hours later...and when I opened the tray to put the laundry soap in, I noticed a teeny bit of standing water in it....and made the grave error of pointing this out to my EXTREMELY sleep-deprived husband, who happens to be a manufacturing engineer. Before we could leave for Savannah, he had to check it out, make sure there was nothing blocked in the washing machine...there wasn't!...this involved opening a panel in the bottom of the washing machine...and involved putting the panel door back on...which he did...

Fast Forward 8.5 hours later....we arrive after our day in Savannah...I'm still in the Sienna, gathering stuff...J got the house open, everybody inside, then he opens the garage door, and what do I see...water, lots and lots of water everywhere...I walk in the house, what do I see? J and my sis's in law with towels, and water, lots and lots of water, all over our beautiful new wood flooring in the family room, which J worked VERY hard on for over a month! We spent HOURS cleaning up and ruined the motor on our old wet vac, and bought a new wet vac, then I ran to the southside of Savannah, which is a hike, to rent an industrial strength fan....and then, John tested the washer...except when he tested it, he forgot to connect the hose back to the wall!!! and we had lots of water on the floor, again:/ sigh...:/

oh, btw, the reason for the first flood, the panel needed to be tightened, just one more notch...and something even told J to check that, but we were rushing to get out the door...something even told J to shut down operations for the timer I had set on the washer...oh well:/

Ahhhhh, the signs, we ignored the DA% signs, wouldn't you say?

DO NOT ignore the signs; EVER!

The end. (I hope!)

Library Day for the Homeschoolers

2011-10-27T18:42:00.000-04:00

We finally made an appearance at our local library for our homeschooling association's story and craft day. The Wisconsin girl in me has a GREAT deal of difficulty wasting too many beautiful days stuck indoors. I'd rather hit the trails, the beach or the gardens. However, I've come to terms with, pretty much everyday here is a beautiful day:) So, here we are at our first library day. (**please note, this most unfortunate photo depicts the appearance of Fairy Girl digging for gold. However, I will tell you, Fairy Girl just does not do that, so we can all relax now:)

While the younger children were doing crafts, the older ones got together for Book Club. I'm ahem yrs old. I'm an English Major; and I've NEVER participated in a book club. My seven year old is now in a book club:)

Getting Ready....

2011-10-26T15:20:00.000-04:00

Fun Never Ends...

2011-10-25T02:15:00.000-04:00

"Mommy, you look HUGE!"

Hear No Evil...See No Evil...Speak No Evil

2011-10-24T14:15:00.000-04:00

My Babies

2011-10-23T06:30:00.000-04:00

NOW I'm at Home!

2011-10-22T10:57:00.001-04:00

I slapped a little of my signature burnt orange on my sink wall (ok, not much of a wall there, but the effect makes me HAPPY!) I had this in my family and dining room up north, and I miss it! Although I don't have any desire to do entire rooms in my burnt orange, a little accent here in there is a beautiful thing! (gosh, my green walls aren't really THAT green, though they do change in every light:). AND J LOVES it!! So, now I am working my way up to braving the fire place wall with my burnt orange!!!!! Did I ever mention how much I love fall-oranges! (maybe that's why I love pumpkins so much:) Oh, and all my years of loving orange, had no idea orange would one day become recommended "therapy" for me---literally!

Ancient Sound Healing Concert--My New Gift!

2011-10-20T05:22:00.000-04:00

Made by a Native American, using sacred wood, purchased in WI at my long awaited Ancient Sound Healing Concert, led by Shaman Keith Varnum...this has a gorgeous tone and is a wonderful addition to my Tibetan Bowl sound healing family! I've wanted one of these for over three years, since I attended my first Sound Healing Concert, led by Keith (he comes in from AZ twice a year to lead these). But, they ain't cheap:D This is truly a sacred instrument!

Fun At The Pumpkin Farm

2011-10-19T16:59:00.000-04:00

Galavanting Around Autumnal Wisconsin

2011-10-17T19:47:00.000-04:00

A Day in The Salt Marsh

2011-10-13T08:23:00.000-04:00

Divine Signs

2011-10-09T23:35:00.001-04:00

Are everywhere! This "litter" was lying right outside of my Sienna..

found in the parking lot of Target.

A September Birthday Bash in October

2011-10-08T21:58:00.000-04:00

Well, I think we already more than established that we have a six girl; and what six girl doesn't deserve to have a second celebration with her grandparents!

Well, I think we also already established that we have a 50 guy! And What 50 guy doesn't deserve to have a second celebration with his inlaws (ba ha ha ha, I'm sure this could be taken MANY ways:D)

Well, in addition we also have an ahem...59?, no 46?? well, whatever girl:)

But, what I bet you weren't expecting is that we also have a two girl...again...well, more like revisited, or a do-over, as she was ripped off on her second birthday, and we decided she deserved to have a special second birthday celebration! So we did!

A Happy Happy Birthday Celebration was had by all!

A Message From My Angel

2011-10-07T23:34:00.002-04:00

As seen on her bedroom door (age 7)

First "Mini" Pumpkin "Farm" Visit of the Season!

2011-10-07T23:27:00.000-04:00

The Sunflower Parable

2011-10-04T13:58:00.000-04:00

Fresh Water to Salt Water Experiment then...Salt Water back to "fresh" Water

2011-10-03T20:42:00.000-04:00

Smokies, (our campsite)....Quote

2011-10-03T15:20:00.000-04:00

"How people treat you is their karma, how you react is yours."

We Combed The Beach Today...

2011-09-29T20:52:00.000-04:00

We homeschool...

we could have just read about sea stars and sand dollars in a book...

or we could actually hit the beach and save these beautiful creatures from the dangers of low tide!

I wonder what would make more of an impact on my girls?

Nature Sketches

2011-09-28T17:45:00.000-04:00

in the Butterfly Garden at our local nature preserve! We had hundreds of butterflies, fluttering all around us! Several had "half-eaten" wings:( but that didn't stop them! It was a beautiful day in paradise!

A Smokies' Birthday for a Six Year Old

2011-09-27T16:40:00.000-04:00

Happy 6th Birthday Sweet Fairy Girl!!!

Happy Birthday to My Beautiful Baby Girl

2011-09-22T05:21:00.000-04:00

Hard to believe six years have gone by--you are an absolute blessing to this world my sweet girl!

It seems like just yesterday...

2011-09-21T11:08:00.000-04:00

hard to believe six years have already gone by...

Unit Study---Oceanography---Story Writing

2011-09-20T10:06:00.002-04:00

activity: we are working with a unit study theme of oceanography---why? we now live 15 miles from the Atlantic and because it was the free, immediately-available unit study that came with the unit study curriculum we purchased and for which we were waiting:) This particular activity is about day four for this unit (each unit is designed to last about two weeks). This one suggests, if you were to take a miracle pill to breathe and live underwater, write a poem describing what life would be like. Well, of course this is right up our alley--but the girls have WAY too much to say (esp. when there is an opportunity to become mermaids:) to put it into a poetic format:)

LIFE UNDER THE OCEAN

The "miracle pill" to breathe under water is SEAWEED!!! We go to fish school. We read fish stories. We do fish math!... (fish + fish = fish)...shark + shark = MAD SHARK....

We also go on field trips to explore shark places. There, we would ride on a sea horse and have the best-time ever!! (Fairy Girl) is now a mermaid named Cinderella: "I have a blue tail, a blue bra, and hair the color of the sky, and a pretty voice! Oh and I found a blue necklace that said to me: 'I belonged to you all this time; I'm yours now!' I'd be a mermaid forever with animal mermaids: mer-dogs, mer-cows, and mer-catterpillars!"

We now head to the Sea of Adventureland, where we will be sure to meet dolphins and ride on them. We would also ride on candy cane seahorses!! Candy and Icecream are EVERYWHERE!!

Candy canes started falling everywhere, but dolphin helped us to escape. It also rains chocolate, in the Sea of Adventureland!

After we escaped the torrential candy cane downpours we met Ice-cream Octopus, Bubble Gum Ice Cream Sea Horses; Ice Cream inside of jelly beans; Sea Sponges made out of vanilla ice cream; sea stars made out of chocolate; sea horses' tentacles made out of jelly beans.

The Queen's crown was made of jelly beans and frosting and a candy tail!

Sea horses are made of lots of ice cream and frosting....mermaids lick them! (of course:)

We are mermaids! Mermaid City Forever!!!

(we will never leave;)

The Candy Mer-Tail End

A New Pizzaria Has Come to Town!

2011-09-19T09:24:00.000-04:00

How We Make Our Grilled Pizza:

--pizza dough, made in the bread-maker

--preheat pizza stone in grill (*note: our grill has temperature control, and very even controlled heating--yes we can bake on our grill:)

--roll out dough (I like to use a round silicone mat, coated with olive oil; I roll with my Pampered Chef hand-held (with two ends, different size rollers) roller

--once stone is preheated, sprinkle cornmeal on the stone place dough onto stone, and further roll to stretch dough as necessary, onto the stone. Drizzle some olive oil onto the dough and bake crust for a few minutes, to your desired finish.

--place desired toppings onto pizza and bake on grill!! (this weekend, I scrounged, as I need to grocery shop, but I think we did ok!)

--this is so much fun and so yummy! We plan on doing this every weekend!

We had two pizza nights this past weekend, and three campfire nights!!!

--pesto

--sauteed peppers

--sauteed sundried tomatoes

--carmelized onions

--fontina cheese

--refried beans

--taco seasoning

--corn

(these were the only ingrediants we baked)

---sour cream

--fresh tomato

--Parmesan cheese

(odd with Mexican theme, but that's all we had, and it tasted good!)

--tomatoes

--lettuce

Fall is In The Air--a look back!!!

2011-09-18T17:21:00.001-04:00

Little Angel---Artwork Revisited (created at age 6)

2011-09-14T09:24:00.000-04:00

Birds And Butterflies Are Free to Fly Math Store

2011-09-12T16:06:00.000-04:00

Fact: 50% of my students LOVE math;

Fact: 50% of my students are bored with math and are in a position of already "knowing it all."

Fact: one teacher against two FULL-TIME students; with even one student battling said teacher about just "doing" math; even for a few minutes (you know, because it's "BORING") can result in not only a boatload of lost time during the day spent in "arguing," but this can also result in what little creative energy said teacher possesses, being sucked right out of her, often leading to frustration and fatigue!

Said Teacher does notice a pattern here: when the 50% of non cooperative students are in non cooperative-mode, this tends to correlate after maybe a weekend or more off; coupled with perhaps a late night, resulting in sleeping in late and starting school later in the day. So of course, this would tell me, that perhaps the parents REALLY need to knuckle down that bedtime routine (we tend to value our family time--tremendously--as do the kiddos--so for example, yesterday, they played with their neighborhood friends, pretty much all day, while J finally finished repairing our boat!!!!!! and I organized our recipes (again) and did some grocery shopping and a boatload of laundry--you get the picture--mom and dad had to catch up, which didn't result in our normal weekend goal of hitting the beach or taking a bike ride with the kiddos--and the kiddos definitely feel this---they want their mommy and daddy time!!!! ) Anyway, we wound up staying up past 11 with a movie (ok, they were in bed, J couldn't sleep, so they came down just to hang with us, as we didn't hang at all yesterday). SOOOO, the girls and I, of course, slept in...again, ate late, put laundry away, did the dishes, then started school, after 11:30am. See the picture? I guess it's time to have a parent-teacher conference to discuss this matter, as it is affecting the ambition of 50% of the students on days such as this. At least there is a pattern.

However, this all gave birth to, our math store!! What fun?!! I can change out the price tags, we have money, as seen, in a tray (ordered from Pottery Barn Kids)---we can learn about addition, subtraction, money, counting change, finances, budgeting, banking----see where this is going? Later we can even throw in more "complicated" elementary math skills! Our math store will be reserved for the "non cooperative" days, to keep it fun and fresh!

Wish our store luck....you know, with the economy, and new business start-up failure rates and all!

A Quote That Resonates with Me!

2011-09-11T23:39:00.000-04:00

"If you worry about what might be, and wonder what might have been, you will ignore what is." ~Unknown

The Biggest Compliment...

2011-09-11T14:36:00.002-04:00

A close friend of mine just indirectly paid me one of the biggest compliments, somewhat in jest. I'm posting this as a record, because I think she just summed up our homeschooling philosophy---yet I personally haven't been able to simplify our goals so eloquently. That said, for my own records:

That's ok.. I will continue to mock you for being an odd ball homeschooler who tries to teach your children to be polite and enjoy nature and look at the world with their eyes and heart wide open. Not for nuthen... but that's just crazy... Oh.. wait ... *sigh* Ok, FINE! I'll find something to mock you about. :D

Today is....

2011-09-10T20:14:00.000-04:00

9-10-11

A Look Back...

2011-09-09T22:56:00.000-04:00

Way Cool Fire Truck on River Street, Savannah

2011-09-06T03:03:00.001-04:00

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

2011-09-05T06:28:00.000-04:00

Happy 50th to My Wonderful Hubby

2011-09-04T12:17:00.000-04:00

We had some wonderful plans for J's big bday! Two of his sisters made the trek south to help us celebrate with him!

A day or so prior to his sisters' arrival, he found out he was going to have to go in THIRD SHIFT! Let's just say he's never worked third shift, and he's not a third shift kind of guy. His presence was required to move some equipment around, and so....anyway, the good news was he did get both Thursday and Friday off in exchange-----so, naturally we headed to Coligny Beach on Hilton Head!

He enjoyed a wonderful lunch on the island, a beautiful perfect day at the beach, a wonderful late dinner (and of course cake); followed by a fun day in Savannah, the next day.

And of course would any birthday be complete sans birthday presents??? Here are just a few things he received: an invitation to join AARP, a swollen foot from a spider bite, a sting from a jelly fish, a completely flooded house and garage (including his BEAUTIFUL hard wood flooring that he spent WEEKS installing---now will never be the same:(; and thankfully this beautiful pillow pet, lovingly selected by his little girls---hopefully that makes up for some of the other less-appreciated presents:(

The End (we hope:/)

Going in Circles

2011-09-03T05:37:00.000-04:00

My golden retriever will circle several times before plopping down.

J says it's because he's a watch dog and has to wind himself up:/

groan....

It seems like just yesterday...

2011-09-02T11:03:00.000-04:00

but, it's been six years!

A Look WAY Back...

2011-09-02T04:56:00.002-04:00

To the tune of: "Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear J...Happy Birthday to you! How old are you, how old are you? How old are you, how old are you?" ...... "I'm () years old, I'm () years old..." "What? We couldn't hear you? A little bit louder please!" OHHHHHH, ahem, 50!

Oh Crap!

2011-09-01T04:29:00.004-04:00

Why God Why?

2011-08-31T21:22:00.000-04:00

Angel Girl (to me): "Why do you do this to me?"

Fairy Girl, "ya, we went to bed LAST night!"

A Look Back...

2011-08-30T17:30:00.000-04:00

The 100 Days of Real Food Pledge

2011-08-29T12:14:00.002-04:00

We've had a lot going on with us over the last few years; coupled with moving from one state to another, into a rented home and finally recently into our new home!! But, all of that meant that we let go of some really good and healthy practices...regular exercise and healthy organic vegetarian (ok we're still vegetarians) real food eating habits. Little by little I've been rebuilding a sense of normalcy back into our lives...better than ever for us though! And little by little I'm building back in the once-very-healthy holistic living practices we've had. And, little by little, we're going to get back to very healthy eating (as a vegetarian family, this often involves a lot of time on my end, to plan, shop and prepare...somehow on top of also being their full-time teacher, etc). But, we are going to get there slowly but surely. And, as always, when I'm thinking about something, the Divine always knows to send me help or a message in support of healthy changes. A few days ago an article popped up for a blog called "The 100 Days of Real Food Pledge." This family, like us, family of four with two girls, our girls' ages! And, as if that weren't enough, I've also (for the first time ever) decided to incorporate some fianancial discipline and budgeting into our lives....especially in light of all the costs associated with a major move and paying our mortage along with a high rental payment for several months. So, for the first time ever, we want to budget, including groceries (The Duggars kind of influenced me too, I admit it, I kind of like them:) So, I thought it would be interesting to see if we could try to have a grocery budget of $120 a week .... well, surprise surprise, http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/category/100-days-of-real-food-on-a-budget/ (as it turns out, after te 100 days, she was relieved, as that was a pretty darned tight budget for heating that healthy--but she stuck with the $120/wk grocery budget). So, we shall see....(but, I'm quite certain it's "cheaper" to be a vegetarian than a carnivoire:).

p.s. my pledge has not officially begun yet:)

Easy Slow Cooker Refried Beans

2011-08-29T11:54:00.000-04:00

Ingredients

1 onion, peeled and halved
2 cups dry pinto beans, rinsed
½ fresh jalapeno or other hot pepper, seeded and chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
¾ teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
One big pinch of cumin
6 cups water

Directions

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.
Cook on high for 8 hours or overnight while you are sleeping.
Remove the bigger onion chunks and drain the excess liquid. If desired, save excess liquid until the final product is desired consistency.
Mash remaining beans with a potato masher and voila! You have homemade refried beans.

Sea Pines

2011-08-28T07:32:00.000-04:00

We visited Sea Pines for the first time today! It's a very popular area on Hilton Head Island, with gorgeous forest preserves and cool horse stables to visit and ride, and a light house to climb (ok, the only light house I know of that has never guided a ship into port--it was built strictly for decor and the tourists:) There is a gift shop at the top, and the ONLY way to bring the merchandise up is to carry it all the way up several flights of stairs. It turns out, they usually ask people who want to take the light house tour to carry something up in exchange for free admission:)

We then left Harbourtown and headed over to the Sea Pines Forest Preserve, to feed the turtles and ourselves. Let's just say we love this place SO MUCH, that we are now going to look into buying a couple of double used kayaks!

The turtles kind of sort of loved us too:) or maybe it was the bread? But I'd like to think it was us too, we didn't sock them with stale bread, they got the good stuff:) (hope they like sour dough:D)

And, we had the incredible opportunity to step into an ancient Indian ceremonial ground---by ancient, I mean over 3800 years old! (supposedly, nobody was buried here though:) It's called a shell ring--only twenty such rings are known to exist on the entire east coast. These were very large, raised rings created by oyster shells (btw, those things are literally razor sharp, NEVER step onto an oyster bed, which could very easily happen down here--and does, all the time! Many a person goes to the ER for this!) Then the rings were covered with dirt and soil.

One day post Irene. The waves were still a little big, the seas VERY rough! Not too many people in the water (dangerous riptides often come with hurricanes)--but I did see several people on boogaboards, riding the cool waves!)

And finally, these are my pretty beach babies---getting bigger by the second:/

Hurricane Irene

2011-08-27T10:45:00.000-04:00

At first, Irene was on a path that was expected to make landfall right in Savannah/Hilton Head---as stronger hurricane. This rarely happens, and the media keeps making all this hype that it's "our turn, it's just a matter of time." My personal thoughts, let's keep the thoughts positive, like with any situation--we aren't doomed---nobody is. But of course if it happens, it's good to be prepared. A cold front from the north came down, and that is how she ended up being pushed back eastward, to potentially impact the rest of the eastern seaboard. It looks like she's been downgraded to a Category 1 (90mph winds, still very very dangerous), as she's made land fall on the Outer Banks of NC (a very vulnerable area, compared to where we are located, because of the way it "sticks out more," we kind of "stick in." If you look at a map, we are actually straight down from Cleveland! Anyway, as far as preparing, after we realized Irene would pass by us---I took down my windchimes and dragonfly spinner and folded down my lawn chairs (but left all of it outside). Worst-case scenario for us, 35 mph winds and torrential tropical downpours---we wound up with incredibly beautiful 15-20 mph winds, and in my area in particular (every area here was different, Hilton Head, 5 miles away got stronger winds and a ton of rain)...two 20 minute very heavy down pours, and a little hail---aside from that beautiful strong breezes and sunshine much of the day! Also, as J was driving home from work, over one of the large bridges crossing the Broad River---(intraAtlantic water way)----he noticed the water levels were quite high---over the piers--I also think it was high tide. I'm learning hurricanes and tropical storms, occurring during high tide is a much more dangerous situation than in low tides--all new stuff--(we have significant tides here--not all parts of the coast do). I have friends who made it down to the coast to watch the huge waves, we never got there:( But, as one of my friends pointed out, if you live here long enough, there will be plenty of opportunities:O So, for your viewing pleasure, this photo was shot yesterday afternoon as seen down Highway 278, the only road that goes onto Hilton Head Island--this is what the skies of an extreme outerband of a major hurricane looks like--couldn't imagine being caught in the middle of it! Sorry no wave shots, but since it's not too far north of us, and we are headed to the coast, there's still a chance the waves are big:)

That said, I heard, though Irene is HUGE, she is losing some intensity...continued prayers for those north of us.

p.s. as a "perk" for being on the southend of a major hurricane, we still have gorgeous breezes and the humidity level is very very low--it's a gorgeous day!

Golden Moments

2011-08-26T05:25:00.000-04:00

Our Egyptian Pyramid Project!

2011-08-25T23:08:00.000-04:00

I know "y'all" (I am in the south now, over a year, and it's starting to sound NORMAL to me??? scary) have been waiting on pins and needles to see how our week one of homeschool Egyptian project faired! So, here's the scoop.! Rome was NOT built in one day, you know!

And, well, perhaps I was overly zealous when I thought we could create our own hardening clay (for the first time ever) as well. I mean, an artist I am NOT! or maybe it was the fact that due to the lack of creme of tarter in my spice rack (never replenished after leaving WI:), I found the only recipe that didn't call for it?? or at least called for ingredients I had onhand?? I mean, it could be possible this was a RECIPE FAIL...right?

I repeat... Rome really was NOT built in a day!

And neither were our pyramids:(

Hurricane Preparedness

2011-08-24T10:49:00.000-04:00

Just thought I'd post a reference (for myself)--Hurricane Irene 2011 is a BIG one---for awhile she looked like she would make land fall right in Savannah/Hilton Head area; which for us would not be good. And although the Powers to Be appear to have (hopefully, can't really trust a hurricane) removed the big threat from our area; I have no doubt that we will be in for some nasty weather this weekend. This is also a great opportunity to be mentally prepared, should we have to evacuate, ever---or even this weekend, when we could potentially lose power for a day or several. So, I will post a good checklist that I will copy and paste, plus add in a few of my personal artifacts that would be coming with---should we ever have to evacuate. No need for my blog "fans" to be bored with these details; this mainly serves as a reference list for myself (this WI girl is fairly new to hurricanes--Lake Michigan didn't have too many:)

Disaster Supply Kit
Water - at least 1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 days.

Food - at least enough for 3 to 7 days.
• non-perishable packaged or canned food / juices.
• foods for infants or the elderly.
• snack foods.
• non-electric can opener.
• cooking tools / fuel.
• paper plates / plastic utensils.

Blankets / Pillows, etc.

Clothing - seasonal / rain gear/ sturdy shoes.

First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription Drugs

Special Items - for babies and the elderly.

Toiletries / Hygiene items / Moisture wipes

Flashlight / Batteries

Radio - Battery operated and NOAA weather radio.

Cash (with some small bills) - Banks and ATMs may not be open or available for extended periods.

Keys

Toys, Books and Games

Important documents - in a waterproof container or watertight resealable plastic bag.
• insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, etc.

Tools - keep a set with you during the storm.

Vehicle fuel tanks filled

Pet care items
• proper identification / immunization records / medications.
• ample supply of food and water.
• a carrier or cage.
• muzzle and leash.

USEFUL LINKS
This link is to the comprehensive 2011 Hurricane Guide from South Carolina Emergency Management Department:
http://www.scemd.org/News/publications/2011%20HG%20English/2011%20SC%20Hurricane%20Guide%20for%20Home.pdf.

South Carolina Online Hurricane Guide
A great resource compiled by the SC Emergency Management Division.

The Guide contains:

•Hurricane preparation tips.
•Evacuation routes & maps.
•Emergency and weather radio stations.
•Coastal evacuation zone maps.
•Phone numbers and websites.
•Evacuation shelter sites.

My own notes: clarinets, computers and power cords, weather radio, backup discs, financial documentation, SS cards, purse, books, dvd and movie cases, cell phone charge, clothing, piper's food, pillows, leash, muzzle, bark collar, food, beverages, camper:), keys, cameras and camcorder, bud's stuff, bud's px, Tibetan bowls, a couple of coolers, meds, makeup jewelry, some crystals, insurance documentation, camera chargers, bathing products, some tools, first aid, flashlights, candles, lighter

Things to do at home: lock all windows (possibly board them up), remove all windchimes, etc, fold down or put all lawn chairs in garage or between garage and shed, grill and fire ring to garage or shed, make ice buckets,

http://www.scemd.org/News/publications/2011%20HG%20English

http://www.ready.gov/

http://www.ready.gov/kids/home.html

A Look Back...

2011-08-24T05:14:00.002-04:00

"Green" Equipment

2011-08-23T02:48:00.001-04:00

My Hubby, cares passionately about the environment---our push mower is electric--our snowblower (WAS:) electric--but the pushmower couldn't do our one acre WI lot on a hill in one or two charges--we needed a lawn tractor--but they don't make electric anymore---a few days later I saw our neighbor had literally put one out for garbage pickup! (they have not been made since the 70s)---so, we asked if we could have it--and J spent a few months rebuilding it--and we are still enjoying it, even on our much smaller lot in SC:)

Birds And Butterflies Are Free to Fly Homeschool Academy: 2011-2012

2011-08-22T15:51:00.000-04:00

A big welcome to my first and second grade students!!

"Bed in Winter" (our homeschool adaption of "Bed in Summer" by Robert Louis Stevenson)--a lesson in poetry, stanzas, rhythms, and opposites; complete with illustrations of OUR poem---sometimes, ok often times, poetry can go awry!

In summer, I get up at day

And dress by pink and blue flowers in the bright

In winter, quite the other way,

I have to go to bed by night

I have to wakeup and see

The birds still singing on the tree

Or hear the children's feet

Still going by me with stinky feet

And does it not seem easy to you

When all the sky is cloudy and pink

And I should so much like to work

To have to wake up at night?

and to the right, an artistic interpretation of "stinky" feet, personified!

Poetry and stinky feet were just the beginning of our first day of this new school year! This week we are studying Egypt, King Tut, and the impact and importance of the Nile River on Egypt. To kick off our week in Egypt, we created crowns for our little Pharaohs.

And just a final tidbit of what stood out in our first day back to school...I was dictating sentences for Angel Girl to write out (and words for Fairy Girl). For the final sentence, I asked her to create her own. If you choose to read through her dictated sentences, and see the last one she created, you will now understand why we *HAVE* to homeschool!

My First Experience with Kirtan!

2011-08-22T00:03:00.004-04:00

I have never experienced Kirtan before. In fact, I had never heard of it, until about two months ago, when a local yoga studio owner told me she might like to incorporate me on clarinet in her Kirtan band. That hasn't really come to fruition, but I think there may be some new clarinet experiences coming my way, soon! I'm meeting many new and like-minded people down here. A couple of days ago, a friend invited me to go to a Kirtan concert with her---like I said, this was my first and WOW was it fabulous.

I'm sure if you're like me, you probably have no clue what the heck Kirtan (prounced keer Tan) is...here's a quick definition from Wikpedia: "Kirtan (Punjabi: ਕੀਰਤਨ, Sanskrit: "to repeat";^[1] also Sankirtan^[2]) is call-and-response chanting or "responsory" performed in India's devotional traditions.^[3] A person performing kirtan is known as a kirtankar. Kirtan practice involves chanting hymns or mantras to the accompaniment of instruments such as the harmonium, the two-headed mrdanga or pakawaj drum, and karatal hand cymbals. It is a major practice in Vaisnava devotionalism, Sikhism, the Sant traditions, and some forms of Buddhism, as well as other religious groups."

Now, I admit, I walked in tonight, expecting very traditional Indian sounds, which I didn't think would be overly appealing to my ear (as I'm not used to that)--this was definitely incorporated--but not at all the dominant sound--accoustic guitar, drum set, some sort of keyboard---and VERY VERY upbeat--with rock rhythms--and the sanskrit chanting was so much fun--we were actually singing. And everyone--audience, all musicians (except the guy on drum set) sat on the floor. This was a fantastic experience. Apparently, my first time here was with someone VERY famous in the world of Kirtan. Girish is a very soft and wonderful person--and he really was able to draw every audience member in. People were dancing, people were singing, a little girl was twirling--it's so hard to describe--but it started with some chanting "lessons"; started sort of meditative--then turned into this full-blown up beat (almost rock type sound) concert--and his voice is phenomenal (he apparently spent five years in a Buddhist camp, chanting for three hours a day). Anyway, just a wonderful time tonight. This is Girish's website: (there are soundbites on there if you are curious--I actually wound up buying 2 c/ds and his dvd so my family could experience it at home--but there is NOTHING like live.) I'm concerned with Girish being my first experience with Kirtan, I may be "disappointed" next time around:).

Below is a photo of Girish with my friend V.

Happy Birthday Baby!

2011-08-19T07:38:00.000-04:00

My girls were playing nicely and quietly upstairs, as I was sitting at my computer downstairs. The silence was suddenly broken when two girls, in the sweetest of voices sang in unison, "Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday Dear Baby...Happy Birthday to You!" It was such a sweet moment. They even made Fairy Girl's baby (Sara? not sure, name changes weekly or sometimes daily) this sweet little birthday hat. So, without further adieu, I'd like to wish Baby ? a very Happy Birthday! (really not sure how old she is...just glad she's got her arms, legs and head on today---Fairy Girl isn't always very nice to her baby:)