Big Boy Bed

This past Spring I was able to find some great deals at the WeeUsables Consignment Sale that is held bi-annually in the Lancaster area.

One of those finds = this comforter and pillow sham set.

I had planned to buy a plain-colored comforter, but when I saw this, it fit the bill perfectly!

What makes this bargain even more special is that my mom makes a throw-sized patchwork quilt for each of the grandbabies for their 1st Christmas. She lets the mommies pick out swatches at the fabric store so the quilts are individualized. The shades of blues and red that I picked out 2 years ago match this new TRAIN quilt exactly! See?!

Now, I just have to get used to how little my big boy looks in his new bed!

(Thankfully he has done sooooooo much better about staying in his bed than his sister did. Read "There have been no 2 week nap strikes!...yet.") And it's been a much more pleasant transition since I'm NOT pregnant and sick as a dog like I was then.)

Everyone, please take note of that all uppercase word I just used. :-) That was not a hint or clue to any hidden message.

Spices, Sauces & Scratch

My husband likes to ask me if I used "scratch" when making whatever we happen to be eating at the time. I just smile and take the hidden compliment, knowing he appreciates my cooking efforts. He's such a comedian.

In all seriousness though, I've come to appreciate how utterly easy it is to mix up your own spice blends and sauces instead of buying the pre-made stuff. If you have a good collection of spices and herbs in your pantry, and a few other "staples", chances are you don't have to look far for the ingredients to these simple recipes.

Along with the obvious benefits of being able to control spicyness, sodium, etc., there aren't any unpronounceable or unwanted preservatives and additives.

Here are the ones I use on a regular basis.

TACO SEASONING:
1 1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. chili powder (can double for more "heat")
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1/8 tsp. oregano
dash red pepper flakes

Use 2 Tbsp. with 1/2 c. water, and add to 1 lb. of browned ground turkey or beef.
*Makes 2 Tbsp. worth (a normal packet is about 2 1/2 Tbsp.) Double or quadruple to have extra on hand.


CHILI SEASONING:
1/4 c. all-purpose unbleached flour
1 Tbsp. dried minced onion
2 tsp. white sugar
2 tsp. cumin
2 tsp. parsley
1 tsp. chili powder (can be doubled)
1 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. basil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper

*Just use in place of a seasoning packet the next time you have a big pot of chili simmering on the stove.


ITALIAN SALAD DRESSING/MARINADE:
Mix #1:
1-2 Tbsp. white sugar (+/-)
1 Tbsp. garlic powder
1 Tbsp. onion powder
1-2 Tbsp. salt (+/-)
1 tsp. black pepper
Mix #2:
2 Tbsp. oregano
1 Tbsp. parsley
1 tsp. basil
1/4 tsp. thyme
pinch of celery seed

Store mix #1 and #2 separately to insure equal distribution of ingedients.

To prepare dressing, whisk together:
1/4 c. white vinegar
2/3 c. olive oil
2 Tbsp. water
1 Tbsp. Mix #1
1 Tbsp. Mix #2
dash of red pepper flakes

***This is AWESOME to use for grilled chicken breasts!!!


RANCH DRESSING/VEGGIE DIP:
1 c. whole milk
1 Tbsp. vinegar
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. salt, divided
1/3 c. sour cream
1/2 c. mayo
3 Tbsp. fresh chives, chopped
2 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 tsp. dried dill
1/2 tsp. black pepper

Combine milk and vinegar and let sit 5 mins. Make a paste by using the back of a spoon to smash the garlic with 1/2 tsp. of salt. Then whisk all ingredients together. (Don't forget the rest of the salt.) Cover and chill for at least 1 hour prior to using. Will keep about 3 days in refrigerator, tightly sealed.

Makes about 2 cups worth, so you may want to half the recipe.

~~~~~~~~~~~

And if you're interested in recipes for Homemade Enchilada Sauce or Condensed Cream Soup (w/variations), just click on these links to previous posts. They really are easy!

Blogger Issues

I don't know what was up with blogger this past week, but I haven't been able to leave comments or post at all. As a result, I've had a few post ideas on the back burner.

Keep checking back this week. :-)

Short Bursts of Sunshine...

...in the midst of LOTS of rain. I repeat, L.O.T.S. of rain!

At least this weekend looks fairly dry. Just posting this pictures today to remember what the sun looks like. :-)

After

At the rate that this girl's hair grows, we'll be donating a 10 inch braid every two years.

I haven't gotten the pics my mom took while we were at the salon yet, but here are the AFTER shots I've taken at home. Wearing her favorite "horsey" shirt.

The stylist cut cute layers all around the back--it's so full and silky and bouncy. Mommy is once again struggling with hair envy.

My new dilemma:

What to do with the 5 minutes I normally spend fixing her hair each morning?

Hmmm...that's easy. Coffee!

Before

The day has come...

To be continued...

Blooms

Yesterday morning I was delighted to open the front door and see my irises had bloomed.

You may remember these periwinkle colored ones from last year.

New magenta and white irises this year, thanks to the wonderful (and upcoming) Memorial Day Flower Sale at the church where I grew up.

With all of the rain we've received this spring, the irises may go on sale 1-2 weekends earlier. (They like to sell them while they're blooming so you know what color you're getting. If you're interested in irises let me know and I'll get you the details.)

Any local readers who would like to check out the sale for themselves, here's the scoop.

ANNUAL MEMORIAL WEEKEND FLOWER SALE

Friday, May 27 (10am--8pm), and Saturday, May 28 (8am--2pm)

Kauffman Mennonite Church (2 miles south of Manheim, along Rt. 72)

Large variety of perennials, bushes, trees, and some house plants.

***The plants are donated by the members of this church from their own yards, so you know you're getting hardy, well-established plants.

GREAT PRICES!

All proceeds will be donated to a missions organization.

Wordless Wednesday

Update

This past week brought some welcomed changes on the medical front. I was able to talk to Natalia's cardiologist and gain some answers to our concerns and questions.

The tiredness should NOT have been chronic, and the doctor agreed that we should take Natalia off of the medication immediately. I also asked her to rate the severity of the leakage, for both last year and this year. With 1 being very minor and a 10 very serious, Natalia was between 1-2 last year. This year, a 3. (I immediately began kicking myself for not calling sooner.)

We value and recognize the importance of medicine and certainly do not shun it, but it is not the first thing we run to, or always the best solution. We try to look at our health in a holistic fashion, appreciating that God has designed our bodies to heal itself much of the time if we are caring for it appropriately, but we also know that our daughter wouldn't be alive today but for the grace of God and the advances made in modern medicine.

It's been a discerning process to know how aggressive we should be regarding Natalia's heart, and we appreciate all of you who have been praying for us. The last two weeks have not felt as emotionally heavy, we've gained clarity to know what questions to ask, and we are seeing God's hand of provision in a multitude of ways.

Through a series of circumstances, she will be seeing a different cardiologist from now on--the one that was our first choice when we moved to PA four years ago in fact. Also, despite my delay in calling the doctor and possibly saving us from a few weeks of all of this, God has been softening my heart and giving me greater patience in the way that I relate to my daughter. For that I am very thankful. (How comforting it is to know that God is sovereign and can use our weaknesses and mistakes for His ultimate good.)

We've noticed an immediate improvement in Natalia's energy level and mood in the last few days. She is once again greeting the dawn in her usual cheerful fashion instead of obstinately burrowing under the covers. She hasn't been as spacey at preschool, and our afternoons at home have been much more pleasant. There are some residual behavorial issues to address, but we expected that.

Thank you again for your prayers for Natalia and for us!