Mondays...you either love them or hate them. For me, it was one of those days I felt I was always two steps behind schedule. Must be the time change...my brain is an hour behind the real world.
The trees/bushes are budding out. The 70 degree weather for the last few days is really bringing on Spring!
I did get the cabbages and broccoli planted in the garden over the weekend.
And tomorrow is Tuesday. Hooray!
3/9/09
3/4/09
Is it Spring Yet??
After a cold start to the week...things seem to be looking up. Maybe I will actually get some gardening chores done this weekend. I have some cabbage transplants, broccoli babies, and beet/carrot/mesclun seeds to plant.
I am sooo ready for a little dirt therapy!
I am sooo ready for a little dirt therapy!
2/27/09
UGH...rain, more rain, and SNOW??
I really had high hopes to get out into the garden and get my cabbage and broccoli planted this weekend...but the weatherman is not cooperating...AT ALL!
Rained all day today...flash flood watch.
More rain tomorrow...flash flood watch continues. Chance of severe thunderstorms/tornados.
Sunday...they're calling for 2-4 inches of snow.
Sheesh.
Guess I'll scrap some layouts of my garden...and just dream for a day that's suitable to play in the dirt.
Hope you and yours are well and have a fantastic weekend!
Rained all day today...flash flood watch.
More rain tomorrow...flash flood watch continues. Chance of severe thunderstorms/tornados.
Sunday...they're calling for 2-4 inches of snow.
Sheesh.
Guess I'll scrap some layouts of my garden...and just dream for a day that's suitable to play in the dirt.
Hope you and yours are well and have a fantastic weekend!
2/25/09
Time to Plan the Garden
Here in the SE United States, spring is around the corner. It's time to plan the garden, plow/turn the soil, order/gather seeds and so forth.
This year I am determined to 'work smarter, not harder'. I will win the battle of the weeds. (Positive thinking...go with me on this...ha!)
I read an article that suggested laying old cardboard over the entire garden, moistening it, and covering it with a mulch. Then when it's time to plant, the cardboard will be softened enough to put your hole in it and plant your little seedling.
I'm really considering this idea! What do you think? Do you have a great way to make the garden less labor intensive?? Email me your ideas and I'll put them all together into a little "Helpful Hints for the Garden" for everyone.
Have a wonderful Wednesday. Say "hello" to someone you don't know today. It might be the only smile they receive today.
2/23/09
Economical Chicken 3-Ways
The best way to stretch your grocery dollar is to make multiple meals out of a single meat. For example...my grocery store had packages of bone-in chicken breasts on special for $.98/pound.
So...I bought several and stocked up the freezer. The real stretch comes from how I prepared the chicken...I cooked 1 package of 4 breasts in the Pressure cooker until tender. When cooled, I put the breasts in the fridge. I saved the stock made from cooking the chicken and put in the fridge.
Dinner number 1: Pasta w/Santa Fe Style Chicken. I deboned and sliced 2 of the chicken breasts...made a quick sauce of olive oil, chili powder, cumin, can of chili style diced tomatoes, 1/4 of large onion diced into large pieces. I served over whole grain pasta and had a small mixed green salad. Delicious! Served 3 for dinner...and have left-overs for lunch tomorrow.
Dinner number 2: I will dice up the remaining chicken and make a nice chicken salad. I'll probably make a traditional chicken, apples and pecan salad.
Dinner number 3: Chicken and Dumplins or Chicken Soup. I'll make more broth by boiling the meat still on the 4 bones. Add whatever veggies/pasta/rice sounds good to me at the time.
For a 4 pound package of chicken that cost me roughly $4.00...you have to admit that making a meal that costs under $1 serving is outstanding budget stretching!
So...I bought several and stocked up the freezer. The real stretch comes from how I prepared the chicken...I cooked 1 package of 4 breasts in the Pressure cooker until tender. When cooled, I put the breasts in the fridge. I saved the stock made from cooking the chicken and put in the fridge.
Dinner number 1: Pasta w/Santa Fe Style Chicken. I deboned and sliced 2 of the chicken breasts...made a quick sauce of olive oil, chili powder, cumin, can of chili style diced tomatoes, 1/4 of large onion diced into large pieces. I served over whole grain pasta and had a small mixed green salad. Delicious! Served 3 for dinner...and have left-overs for lunch tomorrow.
Dinner number 2: I will dice up the remaining chicken and make a nice chicken salad. I'll probably make a traditional chicken, apples and pecan salad.
Dinner number 3: Chicken and Dumplins or Chicken Soup. I'll make more broth by boiling the meat still on the 4 bones. Add whatever veggies/pasta/rice sounds good to me at the time.
For a 4 pound package of chicken that cost me roughly $4.00...you have to admit that making a meal that costs under $1 serving is outstanding budget stretching!
2/22/09
Another great digi-scrapbook site to see...
If you are truly interested in beginning a wonderful journey into digital scrapbooking...come visit us at
RAKS= Random Acts of Kindness...and that means lots of FREE goodies for you!
Not to mention an awesome community of individuals to get to know and love.
Hop on over...whatcha waitin' for??
Hop on over...whatcha waitin' for??
This is the Day that the Lord hath made...
Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Wherever you are...whatever your situation...whatever your needs...you have the choice to be joy-full. I pray you make that choice today.
One way to bring joy back into your life is to do something that you enjoy. I have loved scrapbooking for years. I get a thrill when I take an ordinary snapshot and turn it into a work of art.
Wherever you are...whatever your situation...whatever your needs...you have the choice to be joy-full. I pray you make that choice today.
One way to bring joy back into your life is to do something that you enjoy. I have loved scrapbooking for years. I get a thrill when I take an ordinary snapshot and turn it into a work of art.
As time and money both began to run short, I found a new alternative to my traditional paper scrapbooking...Digital Scrapbooking! What a money saver! Once you have a paper or ribbon or tag or other great element in your collection...it's there forever...use it over and over and over!
I honestly don't recall how I first found them...but I know they were the first digital scrapbook site I landed on...and I've been a fan ever since....
Scrap Girls!
Click on the banner above to check out their FREE training
Digital Scrapbooking Made Easy. Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop, Photoshop Elements or Paint Shop Pro tutorial movies lets you start digitally scrapbooking today.
And since we are talking about FREE things...if you sign up for their newsletter you will get
Free Digital Downloads
Digital Scrapbooking Freebies with each issue of Scrap Girls newsletter
Free Digital Downloads
Digital Scrapbooking Freebies with each issue of Scrap Girls newsletter
How cool is that?!
Today is the Lord's Day...remember to praise Him and thank Him for the many blessings in your life. I have thanked Him for you today.
2/21/09
Under Pressure
How familiar are you with Pressure Cooking?
I own a pressure pan...about a 3 liter size. And a pressure "canner". Tuesday evening I was priviledged to attend a free cooking class at Bread Beckers to learn more about cooking an entire meal in a single pressure cooker.
WOW! We sampled 6 meals and 2 desserts. Everything was simply delicious. An entire meal, including dessert...without turning on the oven! Now THAT is an energy saver.
I was so inspired and excited about the whole concept that I wanted to start right away. But my pressure pan was 1/2 the size of that used during the class to triple stack the components of the meal. AND my budget certainly cannot stretch to cover a new pan at about $260. OUCH.
So...I started thinking...what about the pressure "canner"?
Presto 23-Quart Pressure Cooker/Canner
That's all I've ever used it for...canning beans, pickles, etc. Shouldn't the function be the same though??
I dug in the cabinets for the owner's book...and sure enough it says it right on the cover!
"Pressure Canner and Cooker"
Hot-diggety-dog...I'm cookin' now! (forgive the pun.) :-)
Do you own a pressure pan? Are you utilizing this excellent money saving device?
IF not...you can get one for a really good price at Amazon...
Presto 23-Quart Pressure Cooker/Canner
Later this week I will give you some recipes to try out in your pan...How does Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding sound??
I own a pressure pan...about a 3 liter size. And a pressure "canner". Tuesday evening I was priviledged to attend a free cooking class at Bread Beckers to learn more about cooking an entire meal in a single pressure cooker.
WOW! We sampled 6 meals and 2 desserts. Everything was simply delicious. An entire meal, including dessert...without turning on the oven! Now THAT is an energy saver.
I was so inspired and excited about the whole concept that I wanted to start right away. But my pressure pan was 1/2 the size of that used during the class to triple stack the components of the meal. AND my budget certainly cannot stretch to cover a new pan at about $260. OUCH.
So...I started thinking...what about the pressure "canner"?
Presto 23-Quart Pressure Cooker/Canner
That's all I've ever used it for...canning beans, pickles, etc. Shouldn't the function be the same though??
I dug in the cabinets for the owner's book...and sure enough it says it right on the cover!
"Pressure Canner and Cooker"
Hot-diggety-dog...I'm cookin' now! (forgive the pun.) :-)
Do you own a pressure pan? Are you utilizing this excellent money saving device?
IF not...you can get one for a really good price at Amazon...
Presto 23-Quart Pressure Cooker/Canner
Later this week I will give you some recipes to try out in your pan...How does Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding sound??
2/16/09
Welcome to Raining Grace
I'm a believer in being honest...so here it is...the real reason you should read my blog...
I am a mother. I am a wife. I am a teacher. I am a woman with a family that is being stretched to the limits in the toughest economy in my lifetime. I do not have all the answers. I do not have the magic seed that makes money grow on trees. I do not know of a legit get rich quick scheme.
What I do know is this:
I'm real. I'm honest. I'm just like you. And I'm on a mission...
A mission to tighten the belt, stretch the dollar, to find ways to feather my nest without busting the budget, and to share with you what I discover on this journey down an unfamiliar and bumpy path.
I am a mother. I am a wife. I am a teacher. I am a woman with a family that is being stretched to the limits in the toughest economy in my lifetime. I do not have all the answers. I do not have the magic seed that makes money grow on trees. I do not know of a legit get rich quick scheme.
What I do know is this:
I'm real. I'm honest. I'm just like you. And I'm on a mission...
A mission to tighten the belt, stretch the dollar, to find ways to feather my nest without busting the budget, and to share with you what I discover on this journey down an unfamiliar and bumpy path.
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