My Mom is Turning 80th!

 

Tonight my brother, sister, and I and our mates took mom out to celebrate her 80th birthday at the Ringside in Portland. We had a very nice time and enjoyed wonderful meals.

        Going around the table:
George, Me, Steve, Deb, Mom, Peg, Ken

It had been a very long time since we had been out to dinner together.

Steve and Deb

Peg and Ken

Mom with her bouquet of roses we got for her.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!

Take Your Child to Work Day

Thursday, Ally was really disappointed because she had hoped to go with her dad to work for 'Take Your Child To Work Day'so I got a phone call to ask if she could come watch me sew for the day. This a picture of her watching me make ruffles for some chair slipcovers. I enjoyed having her for company. She also enjoyed using the machine to try and sew straight lines on paper and some scrap fabric.

The results are in.....

My 'wheat base' oatmeal cinnamon chip cookies

Ally was my helper and taster

I am well pleased with the results of using the wheat base from the cookbook I previously posted. The only thing I really would have done differently is add some raisins!

Using my Wheat

I am excited! First, BEWARE!....I get excited over things most people wouldn't. (You have been warned!)
The other day I saw on a facebook page a video of someone demonstrating how to use wheat regularly without having a wheat grinder. She was making meatballs, a salad, and brownies. A whole meal using wheat! Now, having a husband who is in the bakery business, I can sheepishly tell you that though I have wheat in my food storage, and an attachment for my mixer that will grind wheat, I do not use my wheat....well, except for growing Easter grass. :-)

I went to this lady's blog site and found that she has a book for sale that has recipes for using wheat that don't require a grinder. Mine came in the mail yesterday. There are main dishes (including a soup!), meat dishes, salads, side dishes, breads and cereals, and desserts! 
Everything begins with a cooked wheat base which can be stored in the refrigerator or even froze until needed. Today I have been cooking this base in my slow-cooker and plan to test it out on making some cookies tonight. When you use this base, you do not need added flour to bake. If any of my family or friends who visit this blog would like to know more, feel free to contact me and would be happy to share what I am learning

I love these kinds discoveries! Hmmmm, I think I may try using my 'cinnamon chips' in the cookie recipe.

Home Storage

This week, George is off on one of his vacation weeks. For a long time I have been wanting to get over to the church dry pack cannery to can some items to extend our long term food storage. Though we have our year's supply, we know than if times get bad enough, we need to be ready to help others, as well as ourselves. The price of food is soaring.... in fact, the things at the cannery are more expensive than they were just 2 weeks ago. The church tries to keep things at the lowest costs possible for the best quality... yet things have gone up from 11% to 49 % for some items. As always, it was a rewarding experience to go work in the cannery. I love helping others get their items canned and to also do our own. I am filled with gratitude than the church provides such a wonderful blessing for it's members. The Lord doesn't ask us to do anything without him also being willing to help us accomplish it. We just need to be willing to do our part. As I watch what is going on in the world and how it is affecting our food supplies and the cost of them, I feel peace knowing that I have been preparing for what may lay ahead. I am grateful that I have learned how to can and take advantage of opportunities to do so...both dry pack and wet pack. I feel like our food storage is something that is more valuable than money in the bank right now. The value will only increase as time goes on as long as we store our food properly and use the food we store. It's been a good productive day!

You Go Girl!!!

Mya gettin' down!:) [HQ]

 

Mya loves to dance. Kevin posted this on facebook and I grabbed it to put here. Too cute!

Jacob is 4 Years Old!

Today is our grandson Jacob's birthday. He lives in Texas, so we weren't able to be with him, but we certainly were thinking of him. He is such a sweet little guy. We love you, Jacob!

Mya Is Growing Up

It has been a while since I have posted a picture of Mya. It is so hard to get her to be cooperative,.. after all, she's 2 1/2 yrs. old.  Between George and I, we must have taken at least 30 pictures of her and this one is the best out of all of them. She is so fast and with a delay on the camera it is hard to get a shot before she turns her head. 

Mya is such a fun little girl. She is full of fun and laughter, sweetness and surprises. She is a very loving big sister to her baby brother. In the picture above she was trying to get some eye goo out of Brennan's eye after he woke up from a nap. She freely gives him hugs and kisses throughout the day and tries to make sure he is happy by bringing him toys. She is such a little mommy.

A Weekend of Inspiration

This weekend we had the opportunity to listen to General Conference from Salt Lake City. What a contrast it is to listen to such inspirational messages of hope, peace and love verses the chatter of turmoil, conflict, and hatred the fills the air waves on the nightly news or the immorality and filth we see on a daily basis. To listen to leaders who truly give of themselves in service with love and care rather than looking for self gain in power and prestige and monetary gain is refreshing and needed. The world is in great need of  the messages we heard yesterday and today....Ones that encourage service to others; giving of ones self, means, and abilities to enrich and up-life others rather than to demand or expect it through force or belittlement. We were counseled that all are happier and have greater self-respect when taught to be self-sufficient rather than just receiving hand-outs. We were taught to look inside ourselves and rise above being hypocritical...our actions and who we claim to be should match up. Are our good actions just for show? Or do we have good intentions but lack the actions to get things done? We also were taught that challenges and trials build character and strengthen us. In one talk, it was stated that no one wants to leave this life to face our maker just to have him say, "Well, your done". We want Him to say, "Well done!" As one would expect, we were encouraged to  turn our hearts to Christ and His example as the way to eternal happiness.
The music at this conference seemed to have it's own special meaning to me this conference, also.

The first hymn that really struck me was 'Let Us All Press On'  The hymn is very familiar to those of us as members of the church, but for those of you who may be reading this who are not, here are the words. It is sung with vigor. 

Let Us All Press On

 Let us all press on in the work of the Lord, 

That when life is o'er we may gain a reward;

In the fight for right let us wield a sword, 

The mighty sword of truth. 

Chorus:

Fear not, though the enemy deride;

Courage, for the Lord is on our side. 

We will heed not what the wicked may say, 

But the Lord, alone we will obey. 

We will not retreat, though our numbers may be few

when compared with the opposite host in view,

But an unseen pow'r will aid me and you

In the glorious cause of truth. 

(Chorus)

If we do what's right we have no need to fear,

For the lord, our helper, will ever be near;

In the days of trial his Saints he will cheer,

 And prosper the cause of truth.

 (Chorus)

I look forward to General Conference every 6 months. It provides an opportunity to hear our beloved prophet and other church leaders who are given revelation as to the needs of the members of the church and all his children of the world. Their messages are for our times and circumstances.

What Is Keeping Diane Busy?

Chair slipcovers

 As I mentions a while back, I started sewing for Shellagh. Lucky me!

She has an on-line shop, 'Ticking and Toile' and also sells on Etsy.

Here are just 3 of the different items I have sewn, but there are several others.

Pillows

 Her business has been doing well and keeping both of us busy.

Tablecloth

I truly enjoy this new found opportunity.

If you are interested in seeing more of Shellagh's items that I have the good fortune to sew, you can go down the page on the right to her 'Ticking and Toile' Button I have here on my blog page.

I never know from day to day what she will be bringing me next, but I think that is part of the fun.

 She gets special orders which have included making a dust ruffle for a Queen size bed, a crib set, a set of big 24 inch burlap pillows with white linen ruffled edges, etc. As of today, it sounds like some ruffled bedspreads are in our future. Keep it coming Shellagh!