Banana Bread

Banana Bread

Have you ever craved something so bad that you knew you would eat everything else in the house if you didn't get what it was you wanted? That was me, this weekend. I was so hungry for banana bread!! Off to the store I went, and all they had were just ripened bunches. I bought 2, enough for 7 loaves, but they weren't ripe. So I knew it would be a few days before I could get my "fix". For my bread recipe, (which is the best in the world as far as I've ever tasted), I have to have a fresh orange to grate the rind off of. This store only sold oranges in bags, and hey, since I was really craving bananas and NOT oranges, I knew the rest of the bag would be wasted. So, off to a 2nd store I went. Now, I don't shop at this store often, and didn't ever expect them to have over-ripe bananas by the bag....but they did! So, I bought 3 bags of them. Yes, I was craving I said!!

This is what is left of the 2nd loaf I made:
But did I stop there? Ohhhh nooooo.....I made up 6 more batches and froze them Ü All different sizes, too.....small loaves, medium sized and regular. I am ready for more cravings I tell you.
Here is the recipe in case anyone else is craving banana bread and would like a good tried and true recipe ...

Banana Bread

3 medium ripe bananas

1/3 Cup shortening

2/3 Cup sugar

2 eggs

1/4 Cup orange juice

1 tsp. freshly grated orange rind

1 3/4 C flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

Mix the shortening and sugar until creamy. Add eggs one at a time until smooth. Add the orange juice, rind and bananas and mix well. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add this dry mix to the wet mix. Stir well. Pour into greased bread pan. Cook 350* for 1 hour.

~~If you want to make small loaves, this recipe will make 3... only cook for 40 min.

~~If you want to make medium loaves, this recipe will make 2... only cook for 50 min.

School

Today we have a couple hour delay.   I love the delay days!  Enough time to sleep in, scare the kids when you tell them that "Oh NO!  You're late for school!" lol, and enough time to have some fun playing games before school. 

The other best part is that we know when the school will be delayed or cancelled before anyone else does!  How cool is that?

Off to make breakfast, what should I make?  Something easy and delicious! How about this:

Homemade Beef Vegetable Soup

I love Fall! 

I love the cool air, I love layering clothes, I love cooking hearty food!  Seems as soon as it gets cool outside, I am all about cooking soups (among other things).  I have to say, that I love making soup the most.   I can't wait to have a big bowl of delicious homemade soup to warm the tummy!

This is how I made this pot of soup:

I took out 3 small steaks in the freezer I wanted to use up.  Cut them up into chunks, added them to a pot of water. 

Add a cut up onion. 

Add 3 stalks of celery cut up.

Simmer for an hour.

Add 1 can of mixed vegetables.

Add these.

Add 2 pints of canned tomatoes.

Add a handful of pearl barley.

Sprinkle top of soup with: thyme, pepper, basil.

Add a cup of broken spaghetti uncooked.

Add one cup of macaroni noodles uncooked.

Add 3Tbsp. Beef Soup Base.

Simmer for a half hour.

                                                                                 

Just looking at this makes me hungry!

Look at the broth....yummy....

What kind of soups do you make?  Do you like to use up your leftovers, too?  In this recipe, I used up my steaks, celery, frozen leftover veges, spaghetti and macaroni noodles. 

If you make this, leave me a comment and let me know how you liked it!

Enjoy!

Odie Odesimo

Meet Odie.

Also known as Odis.

Doesn't he look cute?

He is a Yorkie-Poo, which means he is half Yorkshire Terrier and half Poodle.  I think that Terrier and Poo are a good explanation.  Just sayin'.

When this little dog came into our family, we already had one dog.  Milo.  A good, sweet, lovable dog who simply adores me.  Why did we need to get one more then?  Well, the way that the Mr. figured it, Milo needed a friend.  Milo loves his friends, but needed a bro, a pal, a buddy.  So, Craigslist here we came. 

"One cute adorable puppy, who will not grow any bigger, not potty trained but good with children".  

We went, we saw, and Milo approved.

Being a baby yet, Odie was allowed to do whatever he wanted in Milo's eyes.  Want this toy? Sure!  Oh, you want my dogbone?  Sure!  Sleep in my bed?  Sure!  

And he grew.

The potty training was not a joy, let's just say that he has learned.  He loves to chew socks, toilet paper, wrappers, and store his treasures under the sofa.  He likes to lay ON you, not next to you, always, his head at least is on you.  He barks to let you know someone is coming up the driveway.  Sometimes it's even our driveway.  He lets us know when people are walking past our fence.  He can dig a hole like to no other dog.  Vegetable gardens are no match for him.  There isn't anything that he is not interested in.  He is still gullible enough to believe that he will get that treat whenever he comes in from outside.  He gets sick on red dog treats.  Cries to have ice-cream.  Snarls and nips at men he doesn't like.  Has the most adorable almond shaped eyes...which have saved him many times from a hollerin'.  Yes, he is truly his own personality.

Fast forward to now.

Odie has gotten a BIT bigger than we when we got him.   He came the size of half a loaf of bread and is now the size of 2 loaves of bread.   He now stands taller than Milo (who is a Teddy Bear....half Shitzu and half Bichon).  He is just as long.  He can take Milo down faster than you can say Half Nelson.  See that toy?  It's mine.  You have a snack?  I'll just take that from you.  Your bed you say?  Mine now, sucker. 

And yet, Milo loves him.  He tolerates him.  He treats him as if he is still a baby.  He gives up whatever he has for Odie.  He lets Odie lay on top of him when he takes his nap, always.  Even if he doesn't feel well.  He does it out of patience, tolerance and love.  This is his brother.  His family. 

And Odie loves Milo, from the bottom of his younger heart, he adores Milo.  Wherever he goes, Odie goes.  Whatever Milo is doing, he wants to be a part of it.  They play tug of war with rope toys and snuggle up  to each other.  They love each other.

One day, Odie will grow older and Milo will slow down.  And feelings and attitude will shift.  Odie will become the caretaker, the giver, the one who has more patience.  He will be the one to give up, step aside, take that turn.   Until then, he remains the baby.  The little puff ball of fur that grew.

   

Family and an Owl at Midnight

I come from a big family.

You know, the kind that has a ton of Aunts and Uncles and Cousins...and siblings, too!  There are too many to count, but is is probably 150-200.  I know, mind blowing.  



Each year, the kids and I go to do a "Visiting Day", where we travel around and hit up as many of them as we can, and spend time getting to know them better.  I want my kids to know their family, close and extended.  It's important. Family will always be there, when others aren't.  That whole blood is thicker than water thing.

Every year, we bring a little token of love for our visits.  This year, we made  acorn ornaments.  I'll post how to make them soon.   They are super easy and tons of fun to make!!

We stopped at many homes, were filled with wonderful conversations, ate a delicious supper, had some sweet treats, swapped gifts and headed home after a very, very long and awesome day!  

Now, driving there takes me hours, and driving home the same.  I usually start out very early in the morning and leave very late, and the kids sleep on the way home.  We always go when they don't have school the next day, so they get to sleep in.

This particular night, I left around 11:30 p.m. to head home.  There was no moon, making it a dark night, and I like to drive in the quiet, so I didn't have the music on or a book on tape playing.  Kids were snoozing after about 10 minutes, and we were all toasty warm  and I was reminiscing about our day.  I was cruising the roads doing 60, and watching the roads for deer.  Good times.

All of a sudden, I see a HUGE white wing out of the corner of my left eye.  I mean HUGE, folks!  A millisecond later I heard a loud WHAM and felt it hit the back seat door!  What the Heck!!!??  The child in that seat by the door woke up with a sudden bolt and asked me what was THAT?  I really had no idea.  I got down the road, turned around, and saw one of these laying in the road:

A Barred Owl. 

 It was a creamy color with brown, had a heart shaped face and the hugest brown eyes.  Just beautiful.  

It turned it's head and looked at me with it's big eyes, and turned it's head again....and I felt just awful.  I wanted to take it to help, but really, where would I bring it?  It slowed down it's movements and I knew that it didn't have long, so I left it alone.  Talk about hard to do. 

How many people do you know that get ran into by an owl in the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere? 

Go me.



To Haiti With Love

I forget at times that I have so many pairs of shoes. 

Most often I wear the same shoes for day to day.

Then there are those that are for certain outfits, activities, and weather.  Can you relate?  Why do I have so many shoes?

While others have only one....or none.

My friends have been to Haiti 3 times and are going back a 4th time.  Bless their hearts, they bring many items to those in need there.  Food, clothing, toys....and now shoes.  

I was able to purchase 100 pairs of flip-flops of all different sizes and colors for them.  What a wonderful feeling to know that these will benefit others.  My friend said that this should be enough to provide 2 orphanages!  This makes my heart so full Ü

Thank you friends (you know who you are) for giving me this opportunity to help others.

10 Things About Me

I was tagged by a friend to do this on my blog....and knowing how you all are just sitting on the edges of your seats waiting to see my 10 things (insert some sarcasm here lol), here goes:

1.  I like mustard on my toast for a snack.  (Don't knock it til you try it!)
2.  I don't like the color purple. 
3.  I can drive a stick shift, but don't like to and will avoid it.
4.  Before bed, I read.  Every single night.  It's how I get to sleep, otherwise I am up all night.
5.  Elmer Kelton is my favorite author.
6.  I met Melissa Sue Anderson from Little House on the Prairie and she was very nice.
7.  My favorite flower is Lily of the Valley.
8.  I have t-boned a vehicle while going 65 mph, and walked (limped) away.  Not my fault, the other driver's.
9.  Spiders don't bother me, but I hate, yes I hate, mosquitoes, leeches and woodticks. 
10.  I whistle all the time when alone, or cleaning, or whatever.  It's a habit I picked up from my Grampa.

Okay, you're next! 

The Little Red Hen Give A Way

See this little beauty?

  It's up for a give-a-way over at The Little Red Hen!  For a chance to win, just post a comment on Bekki's blog and you can get an entry into her drawing!

How cool is that?

                      

Go here to enter to win!!

Over 2000

people signed the guest book for my cousin's funeral.  We don't know how many did not sign ( but we know that some did not), or how many signed for their whole family.  Can you imagine the power of friendship and family he had for that many guests to come?  Amazing.  What a wonderful show of support for his parents and siblings. 

Shoe Shopping

is not one of my favorite things to do.  I will definitely not ever be an Imelda Marcos.  Give me a pair of sneakers and I am happy and ready to go.  Oh sure, I have other pairs of shoes, but I will always go to my tennies and avoid the others like the plague.

Now, shopping for other people for shoes isn't so bad.  In fact, I really don't mind.  For awhile. 

Take tonight for example.

I got the kids new clothes for the funeral we are attending in 2 days.  Not that my kids don't have nice jeans and tops, but dress clothes that fit is another story!  A month ago, sure....today, no.  My kids have grown.  I know it happened overnight.  While they were sleeping.  And I wasn't watching.

We managed to get slacks, dress shirts and belts.  In about 15 minutes.  My kind of shopping!  Things are going my way!!  Now onto the shoes!

After trying on a couple different shoes, we determined that one boy needed a size 7.  He is growing, that's for sure!  His tennies are a size 6, and the size 6 dress shoes had his toes touching the ends of the shoes.  Okay, no problem.  We just find  a size bigger, right?   Maybe dress shoes run small?

Only there is no bigger size.

The boys shoes go up to a 6.  Period.

Again, no problem!

Off we go to the men section and hurray!  Right away I spot the size 7's!  This is going to be easy!

(why do I get excited about little things like this?)

Was I ever surprised to find out that the men's size 7....the next size UP after the boys size 6...is about 2" larger!  2" larger, folks!  2.  Inches.  And since the boy was not fond of the idea of stuffing a sock in the toe part of his shoes until he grew into them, we left without any dress shoes.

Tomorrow we will hopefully have better luck at another store!

Loss

10 *10*10

R.I.P.

Cousin Clint

Last night my younger cousin was riding his crotch rocket, and had an accident with a deer.  He hit the deer, went through a fence and then hit a tree.  He received a lot of bodily damaged and his aorta was injured.  The Dr.s were never able to revive him. 

Such a sad loss.



I know God's plans are not our own,

 and he cares more about the soul,

so I am leaning on the fact that He will come and reunite us one day.

So, until then, rest in peace Clint

until we meet again....

Leftover Vegetables

Who doesn't have leftover vegetables after suppers? 

We always seem to have some, no matter the amount.  Instead of throwing them away (wasteful), I have something that I do to use them up that I thought I'd share.  After supper tonight, we had some peas left over, and since there weren't really enough to add to the 2 meals I made from the meal leftovers, I added them to my "vege bowl".

My bowl isn't anything fancy, just a butter bowl I use over and over.  Anything would do. 

Each time I have veges left over after a meal, I simple add them to the bowl. 

After the bowl is full, I made homemade vegetable soup!  Yum!  The butter, and seasonings I add to my veges when I cook them, really add to the flavor of the soup, too!
So far in this bowl, I have corn, beans and peas.

Try it, tell me what you think!

Crazy Beautiful Roses

When I went to the local greenhouse a few years ago (okay, 5 years ago), this plant was in the throw out pile, because it was near death.  I bought it for $1, took it home, planted it and said a quick prayer for it to grow.

                Fast forward to this huge Rose bush that never, ever fails to grow, no matter what I do to it.

              

 I have moved it at inappropriate times from one garden to another while I changed my flower beds around.  I have cut it down to nothing when a local gardener told me that was best and nearly killed it with that trim (I haven't done it since).   I've over watered and under watered.  When mowing the lawn and goint to near to the flower bed, it's been trimmed accidently a couple of times.  So many of the kids balls have ended up in the middle of this plant, that it's a wonder it hasn't been busted repeatedly.

And yet it grows.

This plant is one strange plant, though.  The first time it blooms, it is a deep burgundy shade.  Then, a while later, it blooms in a dark pink.  Next, it blooms in a pale pink and includes some white flowers.  Now, why does it do that?  Here is a picture of 3 of the flowers when they were in their pink phase.

Aren't they sweet?  I just love this plant, and hey, it's also the only one that the dogs don't bother!

Squash and Sore Hands

One son brought home some squash that I think is Kobashi (?) pumpkin and I don't know what to do with them.   They were green, with lighter green lines, and round, yet sort of flat on top.  I didn't get a picture before I prepped them, and a vege that I haven't had before except as a decoration.   What I have done to prepare them, is cut them in half, took out the seeds, baked them until soft and then I scooped out the flesh.  Now what?  So far I have them in the fridge until tomorrow when I can find a recipe idea online.

My hands have been very sore the last couple of days, but after scrubbing rooms and vaccuuming and preparing veges today (I also did up some acorn squash), my hands are too sore to write much.   I have done Advil, no improvement...Tylenol, slight improvement.  Tomorrow I hope for relief.  I have so many things to make to sell in my online shop, and supplies and vintage items to list also.  Besides work at home, I have a lot to do at work also.  Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Leftovers

Something that is really frustrating to me is having to clean out the fridge.  Oh, yeah...... and finding tons of once good leftovers now shriveling away and to the point of disgust.  Relate, anyone? 

When I think of how much I have thrown away, it's not a happy thought.  Remember your parents telling you about those starving children in China who would love to have your food?  I have friends who right now have just returned from Haiti where they are in the process of adopting 2 children.  They have been to Haiti 3 times now, and the stories they can tell about those kids who actually are hungry all the time, is so incredibly sad.  I'd love to have them all over for dinner and fatten their little bellies up, that's what!

But, since I can't really do that, I can at least take care of my leftovers and do right by them, right?

Obviously we aren't the quickest or the best at eating up left over food, and I have taken action.  Now, after supper, I package up the leftovers into meal size dishes and freeze them for later.  I do have a food saver and use it quite often, but hadn't used it for this purpose before.  Since I don't plan on keeping these meals in the freezer for long, I find that the cheapo Glad containers are fine and suit my need just fine.  Also, I used some tv dinner trays that I had.

This is our last meal I froze:

Marinated Chicken, Seasoned Rice, and Baked Beans

 Yummy.

I filled each little compartment of these little tv trays for the kids':

Then I covered with aluminum foil, wrote on the top what's inside:

 I have enough different meals like this frozen in the freezer, that a few different nights we can all have "Homemade TV Dinners"!!  How great is that?  Each of us will pick out which meal we want, I can pop them into the microwave and Voila!  supper is served.

Now that's the kind of easy I like.

Fruitful Thoughts

"As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so [is] my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit [was] sweet to my taste."

The Song of Solomon 2:3

These 2 beautiful apples are the first apples on either of our apples trees planted 2 years ago.   I waited and waited for fruit, and never even saw these, they were so hidden in the tree.  My husband saw then first and by the time he did, they were this big and half red.

Do you see them?  One up and one down...

God provides.  He always does.  These may be 2 apples, and may not seem like much, but they made me think of how he gives us what we need, and how grateful I should be.

After giving Thanks, we shined them up, sliced them and divided them for everyone to share.

                                                         And they were delicious!



Organizing My Laundry Room/Closet

It sure doesn't take long for things to get out of hand in this space!   This closet is actually in our entryway, which used to be our kitchen before we remodeled.  It is behind folding shutter doors, and this area is where our counter and sink used to be.  We decided that when we remodeled, that the washing machine and dryer needed to be upstairs and out of the basement.  Sure does make it easier to do laundry (not funner, but easier)! 

Maybe because we all just want to get the job done and get out of there, it tends to get messy and since it was not organzied, it got messy fast!  I got tired of the mess and decided to clean and organize it and here is what it looked like before I began:

and here is a closer look:

What I did to start with, I emptied the whole thing out, right onto the floor.  Then, I wiped down all the shelves and threw away the empty containers I was no longer going to use. 

See the empty ice-cream pails?  Yeah, we eat a lot of ice-cream here.

Then, I use them to store all of the homemade laundry soap that I make.  I usually make a dozen pails full at once, which helps a TON in the laundry funding department.  Our clothes are clean, smell good and not so perfumy that I gag putting them on!

Next, I wiped down the machines, cleaned out the filters and cleaned any spider webs out of the corners!  Yep, the little critters want to get in where it is warm and smells good, too!

Then, I ran to the store and got these great containers.  Because I make my own soaps, I want to be able to see when I am getting low on my ingredients, and by buying see through containers, I can do that with just a glance.  Labeling them helps me know which is which, since they tend to look the same!  Also, since I don't use them often (remember the 12 pails at once that I make), I put them up on the top shelf. 

I have 4 containers and included in them are my dryer sheets (I buy them in bulk and I cut them in half).

Next, I stacked the empty ice-cream pails and their coordinating lids and put them on the top shelf.  Since I don't use Downy often (how did I get more than one?), I put them on top, too.

For the next shelf, I put the soap containers that are full of soap and a box where I put all the things that I find in pockets (do you find treasures, too?), and my bleach.  The one bucket that has a bag in it, is for all the lint that comes out of the dryer, so I don't have to run to the kitchen every time. 

Now, I have a clean laundry pantry that is much neater and nicer to go into!!

What have you organized lately? Ü

Giving To Others

Today started off  being a wonderfully productive day.  After getting the kids off to school, I picked and canned my beans,  I washed a load of laundry, I ran a load of dishes, made a pot of beef stew (using up the last of my celery, potatoes, carrots and 3 steaks in the freezer) and it was only 10:00!   Off to a great start!  Next, I decided to make up some freezer cucumbers using the last of my cukes that were ripe.   Checking my recipe again I saw it called for pickling spices.  Okay, just get some out of my spice drawer.  Nope, none there.

 Just then, dear husband came home, we ran a quick errand, and then he gave me $15 cash to run to the store with (so I didn't have to use a check).  He went to work, I went to the Amish store where I buy my spices in bulk.  After picking out what I needed, I reach into my pocket for my money.....and there is none.

  No where.  I checked the aisles, the parking lot, my vehicle.  I came home and checked the driveway, my trail to the mailbox I had gone to.  Nothing.  That money may as well have disappeared into thin air.

Now, fast forward to after I get my purse and go back to the store and pay for it and get back home.  I recheck with my recipe to see how much of this spice that I need, and what?  What does it say?  Pickling salt?  Not pickling spice?  Hmmm.....

In conclusion, I have decided that God knew someone who needed $15 today, and he needed a way for them to get it.  I was just the vessel he used to get it to that person.  I am not angry, not bitter and I'm even  relieved that my cucumbers won't have little pieces of spices to get into my teeth when I eat them.  And I'm happy to have been a servant today.