Thursday, December 22, 2011

trying to blog on my BlackBerry

Well here we go let's see if I can post a post this way.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Friday, July 22, 2011

Thursday, August 12, 2010

The BIG cook

Hey everyone I am back! I wanted to tell you about this cook book that I am trying out. I heard about it from a friend who's sister and a few or her friends got together to make the meals and they had a blast. I looked for it on the Internet ( The BIG cook) and found it but the cost was almost $25.00 for it and I was not sure if it would be a good book so I didn't get it. Not to mention the fact that I am a stay at home mom with a busy family and church life and it was not in the budget. So anyway here goes, on yet another night that we were running behind and we were scrambling to figure out what's for supper and my husband was breathing down my neck saying "it is to late for a proper meal" I thought "I wonder if they have this book at the library?" Unsatisfactory meal eaten, kids to bed, and dishes done I sat down and looked to see what I could find. They did have it at the library but it was not our home town one so that meant I would have to wait for it to come in. Well I got it the other day and as soon as I got a min I sat down and read it through. I scanned over the recipes and they all look easy and yummy (there are pictures of the finished product) with ingredients that are easy to find in our local grocery store. However I did come across one item that I could not for the life of me figure out where I would look in the store for and guess what! By the time I got to reading the end of the recipe it told me where I would look for this odd item in a store. That is a touch that is invaluable for those of us with little free time. Yesterday we had 2 little ones over at our house which always makes it alot busier and when I was thinking about what was going to be for supper I remembered the cook book I just got. I opened it up and picked out one of the recipes and started to cook. This cook book gives you the measurement of each item cooked or not cooked depending on how it is put into the pot (not always a pot used). As I was adding the barley I thought "man that is alot of barley for this soup" but when it was all cooked it was the perfect amount. My husband came in the house as supper was almost made and the first words out of his mouth were "wow it smells really good in here". Each recipe gives ideas of what to serve with the meal like salad, potatoes, rice, fresh bread, biscuits and more, so last night I made biscuits to go with our Hamburger soup (picture on pg 17 and recipe on pg 44 of the cook book). I doubled the recipe (risky for the first try but we love soup at our home) because I have 2 children and a husband who work and they all like left overs for lunches. We sat down for supper and everyone really enjoyed our meal. It was easy to make, nutritious and filling. This cook book gives a shopping list to take to the store with all of the items that you can copy and check off what you need, and a conversion chart for things like 2 lbs of raw hamburger = this much cooked hamburger and this many carrots = one cup of carrots. I know that this book is meant to get together with friends and cook you heart out then freeze, freeze, freeze but I am going to do it a little different. I am going to make the meals (they give you the measurements for 1 meal, 4 meals, 6 meals and 8 meals) one time then if we really like them then I will make them a second time a week or so later and follow the directions to freeze some. I am not in objection to getting together with friends but it is not always possible and I need a plan that will work without any friends. The other thing I would like to do is to try four new recipes a week (until I can no longer renew the book from the library). This will give me time to make any that we really enjoy and freeze them and to have some of our family favorites that there would be a revolt if I didn't make. I can not post any of the recipes on my blog because it is not allowed but after looking at this cook book I don't think you would regret buying it. I will however try to remember to take a picture of each meal and post it on here so you can see my creations. Tonight it is going to be chicken for supper and I already have the recipe chosen, now I can't wait to cook it and then taste it.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Don't leave it on the desk!

Let me start by saying that I am not the kind of person who likes to receive all of those junk emails and I almost NEVER send them. I got this one yesterday and I thought it was worth passing on. So here it is, hope you enjoy it as much as I did. It really gets the professors point across.


DON'T LEAVE IT ON THE DESK

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States

Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this

particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his

freshman year, regardless of his or her major.



Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the

gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the

course as nothing but required drudgery.

Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.



This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going on to seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.



One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. 'How many push-ups can you do?'

Steve said, 'I do about 200 every night.' '200?

That's pretty good, Steve, ' Dr. Christianson said. 'Do you think you could do 300?'

Steve replied, 'I don't know.... I've never done 300 at a time.'

'Do you think you could?' again asked Dr. Christianson.

'Well, I can try,' said Steve.

'Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it,' said the professor.



Steve said, 'Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it.' Dr. Christianson

said, 'Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind.'



Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No, these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.



Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked,

'Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?'

Cynthia said, 'Yes.'

Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, 'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?'

'Sure!' Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.



Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, 'Joe, do you want a donut?'

Joe said, 'Yes.'

Dr. Christianson asked, 'Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?'

Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first

aisle, Steve did ten push-ups for every person before they got their donut.

Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship.

When the professor asked, 'Scott do you want a donut?'

Scott's reply was, 'Well, can I do my own push-ups?'

Dr. Christianson said, 'No, Steve has to do them.'

Then Scott said, 'Well, I don't want one then.'

Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, 'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?'

With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten push-ups.

Scott said, 'HEY! I said I didn't want one!'

Dr. Christianson said, 'Look!, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it.' And he put a donut on Scott's desk.



Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow.



Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry.



Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, 'Jenny, do you want a donut?'

Sternly, Jenny said, 'No.'

Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, 'Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?'

Steve did ten....Jenny got a donut.

By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say, 'No!' and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks.



Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these

push-ups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.



Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten push-ups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely.



Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however,

some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the

steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.



Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.



Steve asked Dr. Christianson, 'Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?'



Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, 'Well, they're your push ups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want.' And Dr. Christianson went on.



A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, 'NO! Don't come in! Stay out!' Jason didn't know what was going on.



Steve picked up his head and said, 'No, let him come.'

Professor Christianson said, 'You realize that if Jason comes in you will

have to do ten push-ups for him?'

Steve said, 'Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut.'

Dr. Christianson said, 'Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?'


Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. 'Yes,' he said, 'give me a donut.' 'Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?'

Steve did ten push-ups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room.



The very last two students in the room were two young women, both

cheerleaders, and very popular.



Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, 'Linda, do you want a donut?'

Linda said, very sadly, 'No, thank you.'

Professor Christianson quietly asked, 'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?'

Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda.

Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. 'Susan, do you want a donut?'

Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. 'Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?'

Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, 'No, Steve has to do it

alone; I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that

everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book. Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes.'

'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?'

As Steve very slowly finished his last push-up, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 push-ups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said, 'And so it was, that our

Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'Into thy hands

I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten.'

Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically

exhausted, but wearing a thin smile.

'Well done, good and faithful servant,' said the professor, adding, 'Not all sermons are preached in words.'

Turning to his class, the professor said, 'My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He spared not His only Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all, for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid.'

'Wouldn't we be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?'

Thursday, April 15, 2010

UBP 10 Prizes! What to choose, what to choose?!?!?!

Wow who would have thought picking prizes would be hard? There are so many great gifts to choose from but here are a few I like.

USC # 10 from The Glass Polkadot Co. The give away is a glass pendent with a chain. They are beautiful and any one would be nice to win and the one that is being given away is called Lilac. The color is beautiful and the design is pretty. I would be happy to add this to my collection.

USC # 11 OK I am in LOVE, LOVE, LOVE with this product!!!! It adds bling to the photographers baggage. I would put this on my wish list for Christmas, Birthdays, and any other day that someone would want to buy me a gift. If I am not picked as the winner I would love to do a product review! I am taking pictures at a wedding at the end of June and it would be a great time to show it off.

USC # 15 $ 50.00 Target gift card is the prize but the real Gem is the website! Her pictures are beautiful at Halet quarles of love, life and family... and then some.

USC # 19 Sometimes it is just easier if they choose for you! Whoever wins one of these rings will be happy for sure because they are simply beautiful!!! Beadworks By Marcy what beautiful work you do.

USC # 36 Well I know that I would use a $ 25.00 Amazon gift card if I won it but that isn't the only prize you will get. Hop over to Tara's view of the World and read about life with 3 kids 1 of which has disabilities. This is real life.

USC # 37 Would a $50.00 Amazon gift card be better? You bet it would. And just as this blog spot has the same prize as someone else so does she also have the same blog back ground as someone else. And just as the gift card is bigger and better so is the blog!.I enjoy my visit.

USC # 39 $ 50.00 paypal cash prize. I don't know how to use this prize but i am willing to learn. I had a visit over at this blog and I felt at home. MomDot is set up tidy and easy to find everything. I read a few posts and found it very enjoyable. I will be back.

USC # 48 Wow, some more awesome jewelery. I am really enjoying looking at all of the neat stuff out there and this blog was great. There are allot of really nice pieces in this collections. It is great that you could win a $ 25.00 gift certificate too. Go over to Just Jewelery by Jessica.

USC # 53 I like to make fancy things and this cup cake cook book looks like it will be up my alley. I love the cover too with the little ducks on it. Go to HoosierHomemade to have a look.

That is all for now! It was allot of fun to read and comment on all of the blogs for the people who have donated these gifts. I can't wait to see if or what I win. My Absolute favorite would have to be # 11 then # 19, # 10, and # 48 any of the gift cards would be great too.