Tempt My Tummy Tuesday!!

This is one of my favorite recipes. We especially love these crumbled and added to a spinach salad and even yummier, greens and all the fixin's for a Tex Mex salad. They are really delicious and especially good for you. Did you know that black beans are full of fiber, which is essential in keeping your cholesterol in check? It helps in the bathroom too, if you know what I mean!?! They are excellent for keeping blood sugar levels level and make you feel fuller, longer. Also, they are one of the best foods providing a huge amount of your daily needs of folate. Folate is especially important for child-bearing women in the prevention of neural tube defects, such as Spina Bifida.

So go ahead and enjoy black beans in any form. This is our favorite and it may just become yours too!


(photo courtesy of Photobucket.com)

Black Bean Burgers
1 (16 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 green bell pepper, cut into 2 inch pieces
1/2 onion, cut into wedges
3 cloves garlic, peeled
1 egg
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon cumin
1 teaspoon Thai chili sauce or hot sauce
1/2 cup bread crumbs
If grilling, preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil a sheet of aluminum foil. If baking, preheat oven to 375 degrees F, and lightly oil a baking sheet.
In a medium bowl, mash black beans with a fork until thick and pasty.
In a food processor, finely chop bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Then stir into mashed beans.
In a small bowl, stir together egg, chili powder, cumin, and chili sauce.
Stir the egg mixture into the mashed beans. Mix in bread crumbs until the mixture is sticky and holds together. Divide mixture into four patties.
If grilling, place patties on foil, and grill about 8 minutes on each side. If baking, place patties on baking sheet, and bake about 10 minutes on each side.

And just so you know, a fantastic substitute for making your own are these little beauties:


Head on over to Blessed With Grace for other Tempt My Tummy recipes!! And catch me at Blissfully Domestic as well!!

Friend Makin' Monday!

My friend Sarah over at I Blame Mom is in on this great little meme today too! I thought I'd jump in here and reveal a little more about the mystery o' me!

Here it is. Today's task: Copy and paste these questions to your blog and give them your own answers.

Then head on over to Sarah or All That is Good where it all started and look at everyone else's answers. Go ahead! Get to know another blogger and MAKE A FRIEND today! Yeah!!

You wouldn't be caught dead where?: at my birth...obviously! Other than that....oh let's just say a pit of viper snakes would not be a good hangin' spot for me.

Do you have any hidden talents?: All my wonderful and amazing talents are already out there! LOL! However, some of them cannot be revealed to the general public and you will just have to wonder now won't you?

Name two things you consider yourself to be very good at: I'm a pretty decent cook, according to SH and the friends. And this Mama gig is fitting in rather nicely. Most days, I think that we are all living and breathing and that is a good thing!

Name two things you consider yourself to be very bad at: I am not a huge fan of logic problems. Much to my hubs chagrin--he is good at them and of course, takes every possible moment to stump me to prove his superiority. And then there is the bad habit of not sticking with a task or project until the very end. I tend to give up a little easily at times.

Have you ever won a trophy? Several for Top Pig at the 4-H fair when I was 9 years old. Still have them. Oh the pride!

Name one thing not many people know about you: I think I'm a rather open book. Especially now that this blog exists. But sometimes I'm caught off guard that people "never imagined" something about me. I guess I would have to say the farm kid thing---people are always shocked that I grew up a farm kid in the Midwest.

Name your earliest memory: Waking up to hear my brother's new puppy whimpering in the basket in the hallway. Her name was Chase and she lived to be 17 years old, believe it or not! She was the BEST dog in the world!

What was your favorite musical group in jr. high? Why Jr. High? I don't remember but I was a huge fan of Air Supply back in those days.

What was something the worst roommate you ever had did? I've never had a roommate! Only a husband. And let's just say that I don't find expulsion of bodily fluids something I want to hear....

When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?: My cousin and I played that we were famous singers, all. the. time! I really wanted to grow up and sing country music. I'm still sad I didn't pursue that dream.

What was your worst dating experience?: I was not a big dating kind of gal. More like hung out with groups of people. But I did have what I *thought* would be a great date with a guy to see a Picasso exhibit at the local museum. The exhibit was amazing! The guy---strange is not quite adequate enough word to describe him! Conversation kept going in the direction of really personal hygiene issues and yes, this was a FIRST date and no, that is not something I really talk about with even my closest friends. I ran, not walked, away from that one!

If you were about to die what would your last meal be?: A wonderful, fresh, hearty loaf of multi-grain bread with Irish butter. For the WHOLE MEAL! Yum!

Who is the most important person in you life?: I can't limit that to one. That is too difficult. Everyone has a role and of course, my husband and children are equally important. I will say though that my God comes first and foremost, always!

If your house was on fire what 3 things would you grab on your way out?: My children and husband. That's three.....everything else can be replaced.

Did you learn anything? How about it....want to be my friend?!

Hot Dog Octopus

One of the boys' lunchtime favorites are "hot dog octopus". Here is the tutorial (wow--my first tutorial!! I'm getting the hang of this Bloggin' thing!):

Take one all-beef hot dog:


Slice a little more than 1/2 way up, making 8 cross-section slices (these will be the 'legs'):


Boil:


Voila! All set up to look like a Octopus, complete with a little shredded cheddar for 'hair' and ketchup!


If you want, head on over to my friend Sarah at I Blame Mom for other wonderful Kid Friendly Friday goodies! Have a good one friends!

Procrastination Party!!!

Woo Hoo!! I've (sorta) finished a project!! First, I did finish one project. Here it is:

Oops! Sorry about that partially naked boy....how'd he sneak in there?

Here ya go:

Oh! That one is a bit blurry. Please forgive! It's getting dark outside.... Remember, it did look like this:

First, I took some steel wool and cleaned the entire chair. Then I painted the whole chair with some Kilz primer as it was getting a bit rusty. It took about 2 cans of spray paint to get it dark and well covered. Then I simply printed out a pretty "J" for our initial, cut that out with a straight edge knife and taped it to the back of the chair. I painted that over with a basic white spray paint and had to be REALLY careful not to get it on too thick so it wouldn't drip. I have not spray painted anything in quite awhile but this was super easy.

So much nicer now don'tcha think? I really like the green!! I think it'll go great with some other ideas I have for the porch. We don't have much room, but future plans include a very large Boston fern and a plaque for the wall. I will post yet another picture when I get that part of the overall project done.....jeez, I hope we have another Procrastinator Party soon so I can get some more accomplished!!

Did y'all get over to The Inspired Room for all the other goodies from all of us Procrastinators? I'm sitting here with a lovely cup of chai and am going to delve into them right now! ENJOY YOURSELVES!

OKAY, okay...A picture to accompany the pantry post!

Sorry everyone! A complete DUH moment during my 4am post (up for a dog potty-break, thought I may as well get the "early bird" on a WFMW post and I was still way down the list! Do people hover around their computers until the exact moment she opens Mr Linky? JEEZ!!) So anyhoosie....I forgot to post a picture of my pantry....and after all that talk of a well-stocked pantry! So....


Oh! That's not it! That's a dream! Photo compliments of someone other than me....The Home Executive, who does a great job of pantry organization!

So....here we are. This is more like what I'm up to these days....


WOW! That's a lot of liquor up there! You'd think we drank....a LOT! HA!


Still never quite know what to do with those half-empty chip bags.....if I put them in a container, I always forget they are there!


However...I am one mean, can-organizing Mama!

So....there, my friends, you have a well-stocked pantry. Functional does not always equal pretty!

WFMW---Pantry Basics

I'm noticing a trend to this blog....it is more food than crafty. Noticing the priorities....I'm just sayin'. So, I thought that I'd put together my thoughts on what makes a good kitchen, great. I love my kitchen and as I've said before, it is where I feel the most at home. I would love for it to look like this. Alas, it does not. It is open like this but does not have an island, or granite countertops, or white-washed cabinet, or.... Okay...I'll stop now.

What I DO have is a fantastic pantry! It is large, walk-in and about 4 shelves tall. It has plenty of room for our kitchen appliances, as well as food items, liquor, some dishes and staples. And I love it. It has a tendency of getting messy as lots can fit in there but right now, it's not bad. I'm working on getting matching storage containers. Right now, we are a mismatch of plastic buckets for our bulk flours, rices and sugars. Anyhoo, what is so very important in my pantry, and any pantry for that matter is a basic list of items. These items will take you from "what's for dinner" to DINNER in no time. I keep staples on hand for just about any sauce for any kind of dish. It takes a long time to build a good pantry. It is too cost-prohibitive to do it overnight or in one trip. But put a few of these necessities on every trip to the grocer and pretty soon, you'll have a perfectly-stocked pantry as well!

Dried Spices:
-Coarse Sea or Kosher Salt -Fine Kosher Salt (a salt grinder can be used to grind the coarse salt if needed) -Whole Black Peppercorns & Pepper Grinder
-Ground Cayenne -Red Pepper Flakes -Ground Cumin -Cinnamon (ground or sticks)
-Bay Leaves -Chili Powder -Curry Powder -Whole Nutmeg -Dried Oregano
-Dried Thyme

Legumes & Grains:
-Rice (White & Brown) -Quinoa or Bulgur(I don't always have these on hand but they are great for salads) -Rolled and Steel-Cut Oats -Dried or Canned Beans (kidney, black, chick peas; dried beans are cheaper and preservative free. Using dried beans instead of canned allow you to use the exact amount you want without letting the rest of the can go to waste. If you don’t have time to soak your beans overnight, you can always boil them for 4 minutes and then let them sit in the hot water for an hour before draining) -Dried Lentils -Nuts like Almonds, Pecans, or Walnuts

Oils & Condiments
-Extra Virgin Olive Oil -Vegetable Oil -Balsamic Vinegar -White Vinegar (esp. important for cleaning!) -Dijon Mustard -Soy Sauce -Mayonnaise (easy to make your own too!) -Almond or Peanut Butter -Honey

Canned/Boxed Goods
-Boxed Chicken or Vegetable Stock (also VERY easy to make on your own--that's another WFMW!) -Canned Tuna in Water -Canned Tomato Paste (or tube of tomato paste)
-Canned Whole Tomatoes -Canned Tomato Puree

The Rest
-Plain Bread Crumbs (can make from toasted bread) -Pastas (mostly whole wheat for us) -Flours (white and wheat) -Baking Soda (For baking & cleaning) -White Sugar -Brown Sugar -Coffee -Tea (no good Southern kitchen would be without!) -A bar of dark chocolate, sweet and unsweetened for baking -Jello -Cornmeal -Agave Nectar (natural sweetener, great for coffee) -Syrup

Go ahead and head on over to Kristin at We Are That Family. I'm sure there are some terrific other foodie tips to go with your newly stocked pantry!! Enjoy!!

Oh My----Tempt My Tummy Tuesday!

Allrighty now friends....this one ROCKS! I made this tasty little number last night for dinner and all the men, SH & boys alike, raved about it! I found the basic recipe on my fav recipe site, Allrecipes.com. Tweaked a bit...cuz this cook always tweaks....and it absolutely rocked! Next time, I will add the water chestnuts and maybe some diced pineapple. OH! How Delightfully DELISH!

Sticky Spicy Chicken

1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 teaspoons chopped fresh ginger root
2 teaspoons chopped garlic
2 tablespoons hot sauce
salt and pepper to taste
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1/2 inch strips
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup sliced onion
2 cups large chunk diced tri-colored peppers

1.Mix together brown sugar, honey, soy sauce, ginger, garlic and hot sauce in a small bowl. I then marinated the chicken in the sauce.
2.Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
3.Saute onions until softened slightly. Add chicken strips and brown on both sides, about 1 minute per side.
4.Pour the sauce over the chicken. Add peppers. Simmer uncovered until the sauce thickens, 8 to 10 minutes. (I made double the amount of sauce because we wanted ours very saucy).
5. Serve over rice.

And it is pretty too!!!




Head on over to my friends at Blessed with Grace for more wonderful food finds this Tuesday!!

Another addition in chalk....

I promised to post pictures of another finished project from my day with chalkboard paint. Here is a simple arrangement for the front doors. I don't like too much on our doors because of the glass and I like to be able to see through. We do a big arrangement for the winter holidays. Most of the time in the Spring and Summer, I do with nothing or this:




I'm not a terrific decorator.....yet. I'm pretty hesitant when it comes to color. This amazing girl serves as my inspiration much of the time these days. And of course....Chrissie is amazing as well. I'd like to grow up and be just like them! Have a wonderful Monday my friends!!

A full day...

Mother's Day was full of wonderful things. Two of my favorite parts:

Sugar:


My little sugar....exhausted and done!

LOVE love LoVe this Song!!

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.


Enjoy a little Music Monday!

Happy Mother's Day!!

Before I

was a Mom
I made and ate hot meals.
I had unstained clothing.
I had quiet conversations on the phone.

Before I was a Mom
I slept as late as I wanted
And never worried about how late
I got into bed.
I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.

Before I was a Mom,
I cleaned my house each day.
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to lullabies.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't worry whether or not my
plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been pooped on,
Spit up on,
Chewed on,
Peed on,
Or pinched by tiny fingers.

Before I was a Mom,
I had complete control of myself;
My thoughts,
My body,
And my mind.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so that doctors could do tests or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't
want to put it down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew something so small could affect my
life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of having my
heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a
Mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of
the night every ten minutes to make
sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
The joy,
The love,
The heartache,
The wonderfulment,
Or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so
much before I was a Mom.

Author Unknown

It's a Chalkboard Party!!

Over at in His Grace


So this is my before pic:



And here is the after:


Ta Da!! The platter became a great little place for notes and menus. The round thing-a-mi-jiggy is an old crock and I'm not really sure how I'm going to use it yet. I don't like to have things on the counter much but I'm thinking of using to plant some wonderful parsley. I'll post another pic as soon as I figure out it's future....

Head on over to Chrissie's and see what the other painters have done. OH! And I have another cute little thing involving those flowers but you'll have to wait another week.....it's still in creation mode (but close!).

Have a fantastic weekend!!

Beach! It does a body good!

Beach day yesterday. Need I say more?! The kids love it and so do we!!!

Get on over to I Blame Mom for a bunch of people that actually did something with their kids....instead of this lazy mom who simply laid in the sun and let the surf entertain them!!

Randomness....

I love how the leaves fall in my yard and decorate the season of Spring in Florida. I'm not so sure the neighbors love it.

I want to learn how to make artisan bread. Really, really good bread. And slather on some good Irish butter. Oh. my.

I guess I know a little about a lot of stuff. At least that is what people tell me. Sometimes I think that I just don't concentrate well in one area. I don't bother with details.

I used to question myself every day whether I should be doing something else. Today, I've found my "something else" and it is completely fulfilling and really where God intended me to be. It's called being Mama.

My mind is a constant source of thinking and planning. I don't think it is as creative in the arts and crafty sense, but in the 'I can do this with that' sense. Just today instead of buying Febreze, I made my own and I like it so much better than the chemical-ly stuff.

I wish my house looked like this. Is that possible with two little boys who dismantle the sofa every evening?

There are many things I feel very confident in. There are a few things I feel completely inept in. I suppose that's a pretty good balance.

I am trying to be more girly. I've never been very girly. Comes from growing up on a farm with boys. Not a whole lotta support for girly stuff. Thank you God for giving us boys.

I get a bit obsessed with things. And that is the very character trait that my husband has that drives me crazy. Hmmmm....wonder if that bothers him?

I'm really a farm kid trapped in a adult city girl's body. Not many people know that. And oddly, they are always surprised.

I always wanted to write. I just never thought it was good enough. I'm still not sure I would ever write something somebody found interesting enough to actually read. But I've gotten almost 1000 hits on this blog since April, when I started the counter. So maybe?

We've thought often and seriously about moving to another country. Take advantage of a job opportunity for SH. I really think it would be an amazing journey and would love to try it. SH still isn't sure. I really feel as though God intends for us to live as a family in a way that is different than what we are doing now. So I pray about it.

I'm a Christian but not necessarily loyal to one denomination. In fact, I've attended and belonged to several churches in my lifetime. Some people consider that an inability to commit. I simply think that they are very similar and that it's not about the politics, it's about my God. The only church that never made sense to me was a Unitarian. Lovely place to visit. Lovely people. Strange not to talk about Jesus during church. So I left.

I love bluegrass music. Don't laugh. It's really good. Especially anything tied to Alison Krauss.

I guess I could do one of those "100 things about me" posts.....

Top 5 Frugal Living Tips!

Welcome to Works for Me Wednesday and the reason I got HOOKED on it in the first place! This week is a FRUGAL thing to WFMW over at We Are That Family. I fell in love with WFMW because I was on the hunt for all things frugal and money saving tips. And there are SO many jam-packed into WFMW, along with other life-saving tips, that I found myself going back time and time again. I've learned so very much and have adopted so many. Here are my top 5 frugal living tips to share with you this week:

1. Go off-brand and generic. Honestly, I don't understand why someone would pay dollars more for a name brand item than the generic. We get generic medications when they are available. We buy generic trash bags. We buy generic canned beans, canned fruits, most all canned items are generic. I used to think we had to have Charmin but learned to live with a more generic or cheaper brand. Coupons are not available but most every time, the item is cheaper than the name brand with a coupon. Which brings me to my next point:

2. Only buy name brand if it is a great deal with a coupon! I am fanatical about using coupons at CVS and Walgreens. I buy most paper products, feminine products, TP, shampoo and soap there for little to nothing with coupons and sales rebates. I usually can score several boxes of cereal for just a couple of bucks from using sales, coupons plus the store rebates. Watch your sales ads and coupons because most coupons will preceed a sale at the store by 2-3 weeks. There will be some "sales" each week that coincide with the coupon but usually you can get a better deal a couple of weeks later. For example, this week I cut several $1 coupons out of Sunday's fliers for Garnier Fructis shampoo and conditioner. I will hold onto them because likely in 2-3 weeks, there will be a great deal at CVS or Wags to use them on (hopefully one of those 3/$9 on family size bottles...use 3/$1 coupons, then it is $6 and strategically, I will use any leftover Extra Care Bucks to pay for them that way====that equals FREE shampoo and conditioner!!).

3. Read, read, read personal finance blogs, articles, books and stories. I've learned a TON of info this way. We were turned on to Dave Ramsey thru these, started a great ING savings account (they have great interest rates!), settled some old debts, paid off a lot of debt, sold a bunch of junk, recycled and reused instead of buying new.....I could go on forever! This book, The Total Money Makeover, has been a God-send to us!
We have read it time and again, and bought copies for friends and family members. It's a great book! The jist of it is that all this reading inspires us to continue to refine the budget every week to keep squeezing the proverbial turnip!

4. Cook from scratch and eat at home! It's amazing how much money you blow just by getting a little something here and little something there.... Our family is now four people. And we are near the end of having the kids eat from our plates (that was much easier when they were smaller...). They not only want their own meal but will often eat much of it. So we have four people to buy food and drinks for. It will run us at least $18--and that is McDonalds! And I don't LIKE McD's!!!!! If I'm going to go through the hassle of going out to eat, I want edible and delicious food!!! So our favorite Italian place ran us almost $60 with tip last time. We just cannot do that. So I cook from home, from scratch. I don't buy boxed meals. I don't even shop in the freezer section at all--except for a few rare buys of frozen veggies. It is the way we keep our grocery budget under $275/month.

5. Make my own cleaning supplies. I started off by making our own laundry soap. And I don't mind doing that but have to admit that SH prefers the store-bought, perfumed stuff. He thinks it cleans better and most certainly smells nicer. I'm not convinced but have temporarily buckled under the pressure and have bought Arm & Hammer this last go around. But I'm still working on a better homemade laundry detergent recipe (if you have ideas--send them my way please!!!). I do make our own window washing liquids, we use a lot of vinegar, baking soda, ammonia and/or bleach (never together though---toxic fumes!) for all our other cleaning needs. I add a little essential oils for more pleasant smells with these solutions. Borax is now my friend. Works wonders. I get almost all my recipes from this book, Green Housekeeping. . It's a fantastic, frugal book that is chock-full of green, frugal and thrifty ideas on making your own cleaners.

I actually could go on but I said top 5, didn't I? Now, give me a few of your favorite frugal tips so I can save a few more bucks!! And then head on over to We Are That Family for tons more. Enjoy!!

Black-Bean Burgers

This is one of my favorite recipes. We especially love these crumbled and added to a spinach salad and even yummier, greens and all the fixin's for a Tex Mex salad. They are really delicious and especially good for you. Did you know that black beans are full of fiber, which is essential in keeping your cholesterol in check? It helps in the bathroom too, if you know what I mean!?! They are excellent for keeping blood sugar levels level and make you feel fuller, longer. Also, they are one of the best foods providing a huge amount of your daily needs of folate. Folate is especially important for child-bearing women in the prevention of neural tube defects, such as Spina Bifida.

So go ahead and enjoy black beans in any form. This is our favorite and it may just become yours too!

Black Bean Burgers
1 (16 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 green bell pepper, cut into 2 inch pieces
1/2 onion, cut into wedges
3 cloves garlic, peeled
1 egg
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon cumin
1 teaspoon Thai chili sauce or hot sauce
1/2 cup bread crumbs
If grilling, preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil a sheet of aluminum foil. If baking, preheat oven to 375 degrees F, and lightly oil a baking sheet.
In a medium bowl, mash black beans with a fork until thick and pasty.
In a food processor, finely chop bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Then stir into mashed beans.
In a small bowl, stir together egg, chili powder, cumin, and chili sauce.
Stir the egg mixture into the mashed beans. Mix in bread crumbs until the mixture is sticky and holds together. Divide mixture into four patties.
If grilling, place patties on foil, and grill about 8 minutes on each side. If baking, place patties on baking sheet, and bake about 10 minutes on each side.

And just so you know, a fantastic substitute for making your own are these little beauties:


Head on over to Blessed With Grace for other Tempt My Tummy recipes!!

It's blueberry time!

Blueberry picking time is NOW!

Today we are blueberry picking!! Oh we are SO excited!! So in honor of this wonderful, delish little berry, here is the perfect cobbler recipe that will be on our table tonite!!

Blueberry Cobbler
4 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
2 cups of sliced fresh peaches or nectarines, or whole blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries or a combination of fruits (or a 12-ounce package of frozen berries)
1 tablespoon sugar
Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position, and heat oven to 350 degrees.
Put butter in an 8-inch square or 9-inch round pan; set in oven to melt. When butter has melted, remove pan from oven.
Whisk flour, 3/4 cup of sugar, baking powder and salt in small bowl. Add milk; whisk to form a smooth batter. Pour batter into pan, then scatter fruit over batter. Sprinkle with remaining 1 Tb. of sugar.
Bake until batter browns and fruit bubbles, 50 to 60 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature with a dollop of whipped cream or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream, if desired. Should serve several unless you are in this house and then you better grab some while you can!!

Head on over to Blessed With Grace for more wonderful Tempt My Tummy recipes!! Enjoy!

Godspeed little men....

For today's Music Monday, I'm giving y'all my favorite lullabye by far. I've loved this song since before I had the boys but now it means even that much more. And politics aside, in my opinion, the Dixie Chicks are one of the MOST talented group of musicians ever assembled. Those girls can play instruments and harmonize like very few groups ever. I truly would love to hear more music from them in the future but must admit, I completely admire that they have taken this time to raise their children and enjoy their families. Enjoy today's Music Monday!

Godspeed

Dragon tales and the water is wide
Pirate's sail and lost boys fly
Fish bite moonbeams every night
And I love you
Godspeed, little man
Sweet dreams, little man
Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings
Godspeed
Sweet dreams
The rocket racer's all tuckered out
Superman's in pajamas on the couch
Goodnight moon, we'll find the mouse
And I love you
Godspeed, little man
Sweet dreams, little man
Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings
Godspeed
Sweet dreams
God bless mommy and match box cars
God bless dad and thanks for the stars
God heard amen, wherever you are
And I love you
Godspeed, little man
Sweet dreams, little man
Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings
Godspeed
Godspeed
Godspeed
Sweet dreams

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

Join in on the FUN!

I'm hookin' up with a couple of wonderful friends to get some projects done. I'm joining in with procrastinators everywhere and admitting that, a'hem....I always have more projects going on than I care to report. So...here it goes. My name is Sharon....and I'm a flagrant, relapsing PROCRASTINATOR! There you have it! But alas! There is hope for recovery for us all.....join me and all my friends over at The Inspired Room as we all try to finish up a few loose ends. My projects are many but here a couple that I promise will be done by May 14th:



I've had this chair FOREVER! Can't even recall where I got it but I've always really liked it. But it obviously needs a little work....think I'll spruce it up and put it on my front porch.


These wonderful little goodies were from Dollar Tree....I see a great addition to our front doors coming....


And this platter was given to us for our wedding 5 years ago. While I love the colors, I don't really use it and don't like the front of it much at all. So I have an idea that involves some chalkboard paint.....

Which leads me to another wonderful little carnival that my friend Chrissie over at in His Grace involving some chalkboard paint.

I hope y'all join with me for one of these great carnivals. Check back in a week or so to see what I've come up with. I'm not promising anything amazing....but it will be DONE!

Train up a child...

So I'm REALLY late today with my KFF post! But I have reasons!!! A) We have been fighting a mean, nasty bout of strep and ear infections all week. Thought it was the flu. Nope--strep. Antibiotics and all that. Ick! and B) Had to go to the dentist this morning for the boys. I'm one of those moms....sorry....not one of those that follows too many rules or anything. This was their--GASP!--first visit to the dentist! Yes, my friends, I said their first. So we got out of there with a couple of cavities...but the nice dentist told me that it wasn't an issue that could've been avoided. Seems the little men inherited some really bad teeth from their good ole' Mama and have the same issue as I did. Evidently the enamel did not grow completely and left a gap. Who knew? So we have a little filling and sealant work to do. Dang. So anyhoo....I'm still playing catch up to everything this week and still have not caught up. But here is our KFF tidbit this week!

As you all know, we are going to homeschool. And right now, that homeschooling encompasses about everything we do. Nothing goes without a little lesson. So this week we planted flowers and herbs. We talked about plants, what makes them grow (soil, water, sunlight), talked about the best place to plant things (shade vs. sunny), what we will need to remember to do every day (water them) and what we can use the herbs for. I'm drinking a tasty tall glass of mint tea as I type! The boys absolutely love gardening and they love taking care of their plants. We give them ownership of their plants and we remind them daily of how they have to take responsibility (remember that post a few weeks ago?) for them. That's our tidbit for this week. Talk to your kids every opportunity you can about the world around them. Teach them how to plant, care, nurture and grow things. Give them something they can be responsible for. If we all do that, then we will have the much changed world that President Obama is asking us too (sorry--gotta throw in a shout out to our guy!). Those that learn to take responsibility today, grow things today, nurture things today will most certainly be prepared to continue to do so in the future. "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)





Have a wonderful weekend friends and visit Sarah over at I Blame Mom for more wonderful Kid Friendly Friday posts!