13 for 2013



In honor of 2013 coming to an end (yes, I know I'm a little late), I wanted to share a list of the 13 most viewed posts written in 2013. I'm a little surprised that there is not much variety in the list, but what can I say? I write mostly about home and our home education journey.

Sgt. Alvin C. York State Park

Rich's Bakeshop Coconut Cake

Soy Sauce Substitute

Primitives and Signs

Where We School 

Making Self Rising Flour

All  American History a Review

Breakfast Sausage

Coleslaw Chicken Wrap

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

A Typical Day

Brimwood Press Worldview Curriculum Review

Planning a New School Year

My New Favorite Chocolate Cake! Crazy Wacky Cake

If you missed any of these, be sure to check them out. Those recipes... OH SO GOOD!

Share: My Word and Verse For the Year

It has been several years since I have made any New Year's resolutions. If you are one who makes them, I hope you stick with them.  I’d rather focus on a word and verse for a year.

Share: My word for 2014



When I stopped making resolutions, I began choosing a  Bible verse to focus on for the year. Although, I don't write about it every year because sometimes it is a personal thing for me, but I do focus on one and try to apply it to my life.   The verse I chose to focus on this year came to me through a Bible study I am doing with some local ladies. This year that verse will be Mark 16:15 along with this verse I am adding a word to work on.  I've seen other people talk about a word for the year for several years and this year, I chose one. It goes along with Mark 16:15, you can probably guess what it is.


I grew up hearing sermons preached on sharing the Gospel with those around us. It's not a new thing for me, but is it something I need to work on more.

Salvation is the most valuable gift anyone could be given. Many will not get a chance to hear about Jesus and what he did for them, we fail those people by not speaking up. Seriously, what is the worst that can happen? We are told to go away, they are not interested or we possibly lose a friend. I think it is better to take a chance on losing a friend now than to lose them for eternity.  When we (try to) talk to these people about Jesus, we complete a responsibility and the Lord will do the rest. 

This year, I am focusing on sharing the 
Gospel more with those I come in contact with. Will you join me?

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, 
and preach the gospel to every creature.



Share: My word for 2014

It's Christmas Time?

It doesn't seem like Christmas around here to me. That's a little sad, isn't it? Well, it doesn't seem like it to me because I have not been in a store to shop. I've been shopping online and that doesn't really put me in the Christmas spirit. My husband picked up gifts while Jamie and I were in the dentist office for appointments so I missed out on all the fun. Hopefully, weathering permitting, I will get to do some last minute shopping on Tuesday morning in Dickinson, North Dakota. Yeah, I'm not too thrilled about last minute shoppers but I'm excited about going.


I wanted to show you what I've been working on that is keeping me from blogging. My sister asked me if I would knit a sweater for one of her friends' new baby girl. I was in a mess trying to work on this project and the project in the next picture. I wanted to use another pattern for the sweater but after frogging the project three times, I decided to go with a pattern I have used in the past. This pattern usually takes a couple of days to knit up; simple and easy. Sadly, I can't find the pattern on the internet to share. But, if you can find a discontinued ball of Plymouth Cotton Kisses yarn, it's on there. Those little MARY JANES those were fun! From start to finish they only take a couple of hours. I took a picture of the sweater before I put the buttons on because I wanted knitted buttons but I made the hole too small, so I used buttons to match the ones on the shoes.

I decided back in the summer, I was determined to have the afghan I started in 2007 finished for Christmas. I spent a week blocking all the blocks I had made to find I still needed about 30 blocks to knit. Yeah, this is bigger than a normal afghan. But I have a bigger than "normal" size husband who is tall. Since I finally completed the baby sweater, I have been able to focus on this. It probably won't be 100% complete by Christmas, but it will be finished enough for my husband to see and use. This is the PATTERN I'm using, all I did was triple the amount of blocks needed. It is quite simple and easy to work with.

Jamie and I are on the backside of this nine weeks of school. Friday will be the last day until January 6th. I can't believe we are half way through the year! The school years just keep flying by and there is no way to slow them down. What am I going to do?

Triple Chocolate Dessert

Chocolate, Chocolate, and more Chocolate. What more could you ask for in a dessert.

This is a super quick and easy dessert. Each time I make it to take to a reunion or a church fellowship, I am asked for this recipe. If you are like me, depending on where it is going, I take this in a disposable bowl because it WILL NOT make it back home and the bowl can be tossed.


Chocolate, Chocolate, and more Chocolate - Tripe Chocolate Dessert



Over the years, I have come to not buy prepackaged items.  For brownies, I make a batch from scratch and keep the edges for me to nibble on. Also, whipped cream is wonderful for this, but it will not give the fluffy look like Cool Whip does.

This recipe can be doubled or even tripled very easily.This is beautiful when layered in a glass bowl.

Tip: be sure the brownies are completely cooled, and the cool whip is thawed.


Triple Chocolate Dessert


1 large brownie mix baked according to package
1 large chocolate pudding made according to package
1 large container of cool whip
2 cups chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Chop the brownies into small bite size pieces. I do this by hand, so I can keep a “handle” on the size of the pieces. Place a layer of brownies in the bottom of a bowl or dish.Next spoon a layer of pudding. The next layer will be the Cool Whip. Top with a layer of 1/2 the chocolate chips and all the pecans. Continue with one more layer of brownie and pudding and ending with Cool Whip on top. Sprinkle on the chocolate chips.

Chocolate, Chocolate, and more Chocolate - Tripe Chocolate Dessert
 

How Low Will the Temperatures Go?

We are in the middle of a FRIGID weather system. Our temperatures have been below zero for a several days now and hopefully will be rise above on Sunday. So far, the lowest our temperature dipped was -25. When this system moved in we received 10 inches of snow; YAY! I love snow and winter time, but I am not Mrs. Claus and really don't love the North Pole temperatures.

Yesterday, Jamie and I did a little experimenting with a pot of boiling water... My husband giggle at my broadcast. He told me I should become a news reporter. ~ yeah, right!


Curious why boiling water freezes? You can find the answer HERE.  When we started back into the house and opened the door... a wall of smoke came billowing out. The warm temperatures met with the colder temps and *poof* smoke.

Someone asked me if our furnace runs constantly with these temperatures. I'm sure a lot of  houses around here do, but we don't allow it to run constantly. With the price of propane almost $2.00 a gallon and having to buy a minimum of 200 gallons, we use several small space heaters to keep the furnace from burning through a tank. At night, when the smaller heaters are turned off for bedtime, the furnace will turn on and run some during the night. Of course, we all sleep better when the house is cooler and our skin and sinuses are thankful for not using the propane so much

For now, we are snuggling under blankets 
and sipping hot cocoa and enjoying our winter weather.