Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today

Febuary 8, 2010


Outside my window...

Cold but I am hoping for a nice sunny day. It has been very chilly during the day the last couple days and gloomy with the sun not really poking its way out. But the weather channel web site says 60 and sunny today so you know where I'll be, in the sun!

I am thinking...

Of Many things this morning, being kinda selfish and thinking of myself and the changes I see I need to make in myself and am not sure how to do it. They are so ingrained that changing them takes me actively thinking about them all the time. And that my friends can be depressing! But I know thru Heavenly Father's love and guidance I can overcome and learn and grow from them.

I am thankful for...

Repeat from last week....
Wonderful examples around me that I can learn from and grow from. The wonderful women who are strong but then humble. Who can see that bright side of everything even when all there is, is darkness.

From the learning rooms...

We have been cramming things the last couple weeks some areas I know my children need reinforcement in and areas that weren't understood in the first place. We're going back over these things before they sit and do their core work. In the afternoons we have been walking a little over a mile and while we are doing that we go over drill work on spelling, mental math, and sometimes grammer. I see improvement and they are enjoying getting out and walking with mom besides working we are also finding neat little treasures on the trail or the barn cats following us.

From the kitchen...

Baked oatmeal this morning. I soaked it last night in homemade yogurt and it is baking right now. Ash and I are the only ones that will eat it but we love it and this pan will last her and I all week. We top it with yogurt and some fruit and it is yummy.

I am wearing...

My long tiered denim skirt and a pink top. I have my hair in my standard weekly braid and what little makeup I wear is already on. I am set to go for the day and everyone else in the house is still asleep. It makes me feel prepared for the day and its 5:30 in the morning....as I let a big yawn escape;)

I am creating...

Well the aprons are still on the cutting board and I bought Ash some fabric this week for a tiered skirt. Her 2 black tiered skirts that she loves to wear with her boots both wore out so she wanted a new one and her and I are going to work on it...This week I hope. I LOVE to sew but cutting out the item really stinks. But once that is done I like to piddle around and make it look like I know what I am doing. I think Ash can learn to cut out a pattern this week.....

I am reading...

The scriptures.....I also just read A Sister's Secret, A Sister's Test, and A Sister's Hope they are quick reads and I really like them they are by Wanda Brunstetter

I am hoping...

To learn to be humble and face my faults head on and learn from them. To stop using them and just let them go. I want to open my ears, heart, and mind to all around me instead of making noise that drowns out the teachings I know are being whispered to me.
I am hearing...

The hum of the computer, the washing machine, the fan on the heater going every now and then and my clicking away on the keyboard.

Around the house...

Weekend mess but its not to bad, lists of things to do, books of those in the house who love to read (which is all of us) the TV dragged out to watch a rented movie over the weekend. It wasn't all that good(the TV lives in our room under a sheet and only comes out to visit once in a while) Jackets hanging on different chairs, dog toys on the living room floor.....

One of my favorite things...

Being a woman! And most importantly being a Daughter of our Heavenly Father

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Seminary, scouts, youth, raking leaves for the garden, meal planning and cooking, bread making, school, reading, sleeping, and all the gentle notes of life softly playing around us as we make our way to this time next week and start all over again.

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...

I didn't take any pictures this last week ....Maybe next week.

Posted at Simple Woman's Daybook

"However talented individuals may be in administrative matters; however eloquent they may be in expressing their veiws; however learned they may be in worldly things----they will be denied the sweet whisperings of the spirit that might have been theirs unless they pay the price of studing, pondering, and praying about the scriptures"

Bruce R. McConkie

Cooking Grits

Grits are a food my husband really likes, but I really dislike cooking them. The way they boil is really messy and I have gotten burned a couple times while stirring them. They boil with big bubbles that pop all over the place no matter how low who set the heat.

So when I do make them I make a big batch and pour the hot mixture into a rubbermaid container and let cool. So that the next morning or so I can cut the now hard grits into squares, get what I need out and reheat. At that point I add butter or cheese depending on what is needed.

 This will last us a week or 2 and does great for those quick morning breakfasts we need sometimes.

Posted at
Tasty Tuesday
Tackle It Tuesday

Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today

Febuary 1, 2010

Outside my window...

It is dark since I am up early my usual time during the week. But it is cold 32 this morning, by the thermometer on my kitchen window. But it isn't windy or storming so maybe it will be a beautiful day.

I am thinking...

Of how tired I am! But Ash and I had a wonderful weekend at the woman's conference and it is over...It turned out so wonderful and so many women loved it that made all the hard work we put into worth it.

I am thankful for...

Wonderful examples around me that I can learn from and grow from. The wonderful women who are strong but then humble. Who can see that bright side of everything even when all there is darkness.

From the learning rooms...

Back into Ancient Civilisations and getting back into the groove after a busy 3 days

From the kitchen...

I really hate to say it but I am so tired of food right now that this week will be the basics. Food just turns my stomach right now, the thought of it. I know I want veggies and fruit and that is all. Junk it seems is all we ate this weekend and my body and feeling it.

I am wearing...

My long tiered denim skirt and a black sweatshirt. My hair is still in my night braids, oh and I have a pair of hubby's long socks on to keep my feet warm.

I am creating...

At the moment nothing is coming to mind. I still have the 2 aprons on the sewing table to sew I need some coordinating fabric to go with them and I haven't been able to get to the store to get some.

I am going...

To try and get my mind and body back into the groove of life again. For some reason this whole weekend is really getting my system out of whack.

I am reading...

The scriptures

I am hoping...

Many things

I am hearing...

Total quiet.....well hubby is snoring in the far background in our bedroom but other than that nothing. The peace and quiet are lovely.

Around the house...

Nothing to much the weekend mess, lists for errands later this week, seed catalogs out for browsing through and choosing from this week....

One of my favorite things...

inspiring music...

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Ash to seminary today, FHE tonight, errands this week, scouts, dinner with friends, library trip, drink tons of water I feel so dry all over, let my husband know how much I appreciate him everyday.

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...

This picture is from the special session of women's conference Friday night, our YSA slumber party. We all had a wonderful evening of inspirational talks, a night hike, movies, and of course food. We had 16 who came and about 135 came Saturday for the conference. It all worked out great.

To read about more wonderful ladies click on over to Simple Woman's Daybook!

The Mad Scientist....

Yguy and I were home last week all by ourselves. Ash had an all day seminary day and so he and I hung out at home.

I don't get the chance to spend one on one time all day with my children. They both are always with me, I do try to do it a little here and there though. All day is rare but when we do, we have alot of fun.

On this day Yguy decided that the pumpkins I have let sit on our front walkway needed to be dissected. They had been frozen a few times and snowed on once so 2 were very soft inside.

He opened the biggest first. That one looked like the man eating flower off of Jumanji and one was so thick he broke one of my steak knives. But he had fun and that is what matters. I let him open them up in the woods for the little critters to eat on. The chickens would have loved it but I thought we should share with other animals.

He also collected the seeds and they are drying on the kitchen counter.

The kittens in the chicken house are growing so fast! They are adorable and love when we come in and talk to them. See one is trying to escape, they are getting quite bored with the tire corraling them. We found an egg in with them earlier that day. They sleep in the rim of the tire when momma isn't there so the hens are still layin in the nest. You can see the tails of 2 of my ladies in the picture as well.

Banana Cake

art.com

This is one of those recipes that helps use up your ripe bananas. I only make banana bread with them, I know no imagination what so ever! But its true I only use them for just that, now we love banana bread or muffins with nuts or choc chips or both.

Over the weekend my daughter made a cake using bananas. I have had this before years and I mean years ago so when I bought some marked down bananas this cake came to mind. She made it for a church activity on Saturday and it was a big hit. My son made Peanut Butter Pie which I posted yesterday on my Daybook entry.

The Cake is easy to make and she had no problem except she wasn't sure how to mash the bananas I showed her the easy way. Peel and use your hands to mash them, she thought that was a hoot and had no problem mashing more for the icing later. I looked for a recipe that didn't have alot of steps and used a yellow cake in a box. I didn't want to get real elaborate even though cooking from scratch is my prefered way and something from a box is my last choice.

I hope you enjoy this....

Banana Cake
1 box yellow cake mix
1/2 cup oil
1 c ripe banana puree
1/2 c water
4 eggs

Mix ingredients pour into 9x13 pan and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Now we had to cook it for 45 minutes. But like banana bread it turned nice and golden brown but was still very undercooked. You might want to tent this with aluminum foil to prevent it from getting to brown on top, we didn't. But I usually do this with my banana breads. Check it at 30 minutes and go from there on yours.

Icing

1 8oz cool whip
1/3 c milk
1 (3.5 oz) instant vanilla pudding
1 c mashed banana

Combine all these  and set in frig until cake is cooled. Leave cake in the pan.
Pour topping onto cooled cake and return to frig for an hour before serving for best results.

She made the cake Friday, the icing Saturday, iced the cake and set it in the frig until we left.

We found this recipe on Allrecipes and they had many others to try.
I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

What do you use your ripe bananas for?

Posted at Tasty Tuesday over at Bedlam and Beauty

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

January 25,2010

Outside my window...

 It is dark being that it is 4:50am a little chilly but not that bad. Its looks to be a very nice day today

I am thinking...

At how nice it would to sleep in but if I did I would be chasing my tail all day and wouldn't get my self jump started for the day. And how I can't wait for this time next week since our women's conference will be over with and done.

I am thankful for...

Today I am in a weird mood so I am not sure. I am thankful for many things but to type in a token item isn't right since I need to feel it and this morning I am just here. I know as my brain warms up and the day really gets going I will feel thankful for so many things instead of just thinking OK I have a list of things. Oh I am thankful our W2 came in and Taxact is wonderful, our taxes should be in, in about 2 weeks.

From the learning rooms...

I found some placement tests online and have printed out a bunch to do a math review over the next couple months. My son loves math my daughter not so much and it totally baffles her. But along with their online math at BYU independant study we will be doing a review and see if we can help her understand. I noticed something the other day that she finally got after...forever and I think maybe she is maturing enough to finally understand. My son just needs to learn to slow down and pay attention. :0)

From the kitchen...

Peanut Butter Pie

2 gramham cracker crusts

2 jars hot fudge sauce

1 cup peanut butter

 8oz cream cheese

16oz cool whip

heat fudge sauce following directions, pour about 1 1/2 jars into pie crusts or 3/4 of a jar into each pie crust. Spread out over the bottoms of the crusts. In a bowl whip together peanut butter and cream cheese then fold in cool whip. Divide mixture between the crusts and take the remaining fudge sauce and drizzle on the top o pies. Freeze pies and remove from freezer 30 minutes before eating.

This is very good Yguy made it for a church activity Saturday it was a big success along with the Banana Cake Ash made.

I am wearing...

sweat pants, tshirt, and fannel. I am going to start my walking back up this morning and work back up to 2 miles again. It hasn't been long since I stopped so it should only take a week or 2. And it depends on the weather as usual. That is why I stopped in the first place all the rain.

I am creating...

Well 2 aprons and a drawstring bag are cut out and on my sewing table.

I am going...

absolutely nowhere today...well Ash needs to go to seminary this after noon. So bummer staying home would be nice.

I am reading...

Little Women and He Shall Thunder in the Sky an Amelia Peabody mystery by Elizabeth Peters. I love her books and reread them every now and then.

I am hoping...

Many things...loosing weight would be nice. But the lack of self control and get up and go are my constant companions.

I am hearing...

The silly rooster going off this still very dark early morning.

Around the house...

Its Monday so a complete mess! But its not a total loss our house is small so it is fixed easily.

One of my favorite things...

sleeping....

A few plans for the rest of the week...

seminary, school, final prep days before women's conference, YSA slumber party friday night and conference Saturday.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

This is Cooler on top of the green house. Before the plastic was put on. Climbing is his favorite thing and he wanted mom's undivided attention.

Posted at The Simple Women's Daybook