Why I Didn't Post Yesterday

Yes, I know - I didn't post a "Handmade on Wednesday" this week! It has just been so busy around here; not that we're doing anything really unusual, but the "usual" can get to be pretty busy sometimes! With school, helping with meals, and trying to keep the house clean, I just didn't have time this week for a "craft" post. Oh well - maybe next week!

So what does our "usual" consist of that takes so much time?

Hmmmm. This could take a while.

Thismorning, I woke up to the boy's alarm clock going off at 6:30, our normal "get up" time. Of course, I layed in bed a little longer than I should have, so I ended up not having time to make my bed or clean my room before family devotions. After a quick breakfast, I teamed up with Courtney at the kitchen sink, drying whatever she washed, which happened to be bread pans. I had my devotional at 9:00, and then tackled school: studying for a science test, studying for a history test, and....algebra. (I still have more algebra to do tonight, too. :) :))


Speaking of history, let's stop for a quick clip of an Andy Griffith "history moment". Watch Barney explain (as only he can) the Emancipation Proclamation. A good history lesson.....!!!:)



Back to my day.....

Violin practice came right before lunch.......So.....around noon, we put together some grilled cheese sandwiches, and then, after eating them, cleaned the kitchen. The boys headed outside to chop firewood, and I began ironing a huge stack of clothes while watching "Caddie Woodlawn". (We love this movie!) After that, I cleaned out my closet, which took some time, and then attached a new shower curtain to the shower. I did this and that....which brings me to dinner. I made a quick sheet of nachos for everybody real quick, played some violin with Courtney on the piano....which brings me to right now.

Yes, we had a full day!

But I'd rather have too much to do than not enough!!!! And truthfully, I love being busy with my family.

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Tuesday's Treat

O' Henry Bars

These bars are really good. Due to some of the "unhealthy" ingredients the recipe called for, I made a few modifications......but we couldn't taste the difference! They are fast and easy to whip up, since they only bake for 15 minutes. With these rich, chocolate bars, I can easily satisfy my 'chocolate craving' I get every so often! Enjoy!

4 cups oatmeal

1/2 cup brown sugar (we used turbinado sugar)

3/4 cup butter

1/2 cup corn syrup (we used brown rice syrup)

1 T. vanilla

1/3 cup milk

1/2 - 3/4 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter

Mix oatmeal, brown sugar, butter, syrup, vanilla, and milk. Press into a 9x13 pan and bake 12-14 minutes at 375. Cool slightly. In a saucepan, slowly melt chocolate chips. Add peanut butter; stir until creamy and well mixed. Spread over warm bars. When bars are partly cooled, refrigerate or freeze until the chocolate is firm. (about an hour.) Thaw slightly if needed; cut into bars.

What the recipe doesn't tell you is how to prepare for overwhelming reactions about your bars displayed by your "test - tasters" (a.k.a. brothers)........

"Can it be? Really? A Rachel Krause-ooey-gooey-chocolatey-creation?"

"Ah.....at last. A whole pan to myself."

"Not bad! Great job, sis!"

Mmmmmmmmmm. Good.

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Ride'em Cowboy! (Or is it Goatboy?)

The boys were putting the goats away for the night, and David decided to go for a "goat ride"! (Notices the "reigns" he's holding - it's actually the leash!) Even though the rather bumpy ride is often interrupted by Jasper's apparent need for constant "snacking" (notice the grass hanging out of his mouth below), it's a fun and unpredictable ride all around! The pictures aren't the greatest, as it was pretty dark out already, but I thought it'd make a good blog post anyway.

For a goat, Jasper does a pretty good job of keeping David off the ground! As easy as it may look, goat riding isn't easy - David has been aboard a galloping goat at least once so far when Jasper got spooked by the mule!!

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Food For Thought: Thoughts On Time Management

Time...it's the one thing I never seem to have enough of! As much as we tend to say things like, "the time is just crawling by" or "today went by so fast", the 24 hours we receive each day stays the same. Of course, sometimes it may seem to go slower or faster, due to surrounding circumstances, but every day, we are given the same amount of time to work with: we get 24 hours. What we do with that time is up to us.

Time is a gift - it really is! Actually, our whole lives are. But as far as each day, the time God gives us (24 hours!) is a great gift, and something we should definitely be grateful for! However, we need to be very careful to make sure that we don't misuse this gift. It is very easy to waste the minutes that are given to us. Watch the clock for a moment - sixty seconds tick by, and then that minute is gone, never to be had again. It is interesting that for as many clocks and watches as we have around, we don't always consider that our time is slowly fading away, the minutes are passing. The hours we are calling "future" right now will soon be here and called "past." My great Grandma wrote a poem on this subject entitled, "When Did My Tomorrows Become My Yesterdays?" That's an interesting thought. Time ticks by wheither we like it to or not. And it ticks by so fast!

So how can we be sure that we are using the time we have the way God wants us to? I mean, how can we know we are making the best use of every second, minute, and hour that goes by? This can be hard to figure out, but I think the main thing to remember is the question, "Is what I am doing bringing glory and honor to God?" Ask yourself this question often. If you're making an apple pie or a pan of brownies as a special treat for your family, this is a good use of time: you are fulfilling your role as a homemaker and a helper to your mother. Below are some more general tips to consider when deciding how to best use your time!

~Never let a moment pass by without doing something meaningful. (Remember the old saying, "idle hands are the devil's workshop!")

~The time is always right to do what is right." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

~If you find you don't have enough time for a certain project, try setting aside even 10 or 20 minutes a day to work on it. You might not make much progress the first few days, but after a few weeks, your diligent work for a few minutes a day will pay off! Most everyone has at least 10 - 20 minutes of time to spare each day - try it! I sometime bring my handwork to the dinner table to work on after we have eaten and are having family discussions. Try working on your project in the car, if you don't get carsick!

~Remember "For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned." (I love this one - a messy room never pays!)

~Try getting up earlier in the morning. Rising at an early hour is a good way to get in quiet activities, like personal Bible reading or prayer.

~Ask God to help you organize your day. He is giving you each minute, and certainly wants you to use it wisely! "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." ~Psalm 90:12

I hope these tips are helpful! As one author put it, "My finger points back at me as I write." I hardly feel qualified to write this, as I certainly have my own struggles in using my time wisely! But I hope that you have been encouraged by these tips. Have a blessed day, and make every minute count for Him!

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Handmade On Wednesday

Decorative Recipe Cards

I got this idea from a fellow blogger, Miss Jen! When my sister and I saw the idea on her blog, we thought it was such a good idea that we are now busy working on our own! You can customize and decorate your recipe cards to fit your preferences, and then cover them with contact paper to prevent future splatters and stains. I have been on many recipe-copying marathons before, and when I looked at a rather old recipe that had chocolate banana batter smeared all over the back of it, I knew it was time to start copying again! (Although I think this "round" of recipes will probably be quite long lasting!) You can be as creative as you want - Courtney is copying her recipes on plain notecards or store bought recipe cards, while I am decorating them myself (it's so much more fun!) Either way, it is a great way to have a nice collection of pretty recipe cards that you can both use and treasure for years to come.

Copy your recipe onto a card. I am using calligraphy pens of all colors for the recipe title, and then use a nice black pen for the actual recipe. I also cut my own cards out of plain or colored scrapbook paper. Having a plain card gives you room to decorate as much as you want!

Decorate them however you like, using stamps, stickers, or anything else. One way I decorated mine that is kind of fun is to cut flower petals from old greeting cards or craft paper, and then "construct" the flower using photo stickies. Miss Jen's blog shows this in much better detail!

Cover your finished recipe with contact paper on either side. (Make sure that your recipe is truly 'finished' before you cover it....I did one that I thought was finished, but after I covered it with the contact paper, I discovered I hadn't written out all the baking instructions!)

The finished product!

I am having fun making all these recipe cards. Since I am naturally "crafty", I was excited to get started! I hope you all enjoy making your own!

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Blog 'Schedule'

I thought I'd lay out my 'plan' for this blog so you can know what to expect on certain days! Of course, I can't promise I'll be able to post consistantly all the time, as things can get really busy around here, but I'll try!

Tuesday's Treat: This post will consist of a delectable dessert for all the bakers out there! Expect pictures, tips, and step by step instructions.

Handmade on Wednesday: This post will consist of a new craft or project I am currently working on. I have lots of good ideas for this one!

Food for Thought: This post will consist of an article, poetry, Scripture verses, or inspiring qoutes that will encourage you in the Lord.

Please feel free to comment on anything...I always love hearing from my readers!

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My New Blog!

I am very new to this, writing a blog, but am excited to get started! I am hoping to use this blog for sharing my many interests. Most importantly, I hope it brings glory to God by encouraging fellow Christian girls from all over. Since I love to bake, expect lots of recipes and corresponding photos! I also really enjoy crafts, so I am hoping to publish pictures and ideas of projects I am currently working on. And of course, there will be recent pictures of our family and updates on our many activities. It is my hope that the Scripture verses, inspiring quotes, and short articles I am planning to publish will be refreshing and encouraging to Christian young ladies of all ages. I hope you enjoy following my blog!

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