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I am
living "Lisa's" life from Green Acres. Of course, there are no pigs in the living room, unless you want to count my kids! They often leave the house in sty-worthy condition, but I love 'em anyway...
Removed from Suburbia, I homeschool 2 of our 3, figuring that not only is homeschooling a great way to feed my bibliophilia, but it affords me the privilege to spend much of my time with my favorite people on earth.
I try to indulge in activities that feed my soul -
I read when I can and write when I can. I run, bike, swim, and do yoga as much as possible, not only so I feel great, but also so I can eat what I want! I love to bake, cook, read recipes - if it relates to food, I'm so there.In short, I spend my life pursuing my passions. All the while, I am raising a family, and learning to live in the most important posture of all - on my knees in prayer. I am PrayerPoseMom.
Veterans’ Day
Last month, in our small little county, in a rural patch of Appalachia, a soldier came home.
He came home to a hero’s welcome. Crowds lined both sides of a 40 mile stretch of the highway from the airport to town. Banners were hung from businesses, people were dressed in red, white and blue, waving flags both large and small.
I’ve never seen such an overt display of patriotism in my life. Not even on the Fourth of July. Sometimes, I think, much like Christmas, the importance and meaning of Independence Day or Veterans’ Day is lost on most people. I confess, I’ve often just passed it off as another day that there is no mail or the banks are closed.
Let’s face it, we don’t celebrate this holiday with parades much anymore. Scores of WWII and Korean War veterans are no longer living. Vietnam vets still harbor bad feelings about that war and their perception of the support for their service. Many veterans of the Gulf War, as well as the War on Terror, are just busy making a living, raising families, and even still serving. Most years, because if there are Veterans’ Day ceremonies, they aren’t publicized in many places beyond the VFW hall, it plays out as just another day.
Several years ago, I watched “Saving Private Ryan” and it changed the way I looked at Veterans’ Day. My grandfather fought in the European theater during WWII and while he wasn’t part of the Normandy Invasion, I’m certain he saw things no one should have to see. The movie opened my eyes to war. I felt differently about those who served. And I felt differently about the cost of freedom.
But nothing brought it home like that day last month when a soldier came home.
When Marine Lance Corporal Frankie Watson came home, he came home in a casket.
I saw with my own eyes what freedom is really about. I saw that not everyone who fights for my rights and privileges as an American comes home to their loved ones. And even though I didn’t personally know Frankie – although I know enough people that did – it hurt. It still does.
I can’t even imagine how it hurts the families and the friends and the brothers-in-arms who lose a loved one in combat.
But then, it must hurt too, when a soldier who put his or her life on the line, and maybe lost a buddy or two, or lost eyesight or a limb, comes home without a hero’s welcome.
Because they most assuredly deserve it.
Thank you to all who have served and are serving your country. What you do matters…. more than you know.
May God bless you for your sacrifices and dedication each and every day.
Asking Questions
I am sincerely and tragically shy. I don’t like sharing. My feelings. My thoughts.
I vigorously guard my private inner world.
I was one of those kids that used to literally hide behind my mom’s skirts. I’m aging myself because when I was little, women still wore dresses and skirts on a daily basis.
But oddly enough, most people I meet nowadays think I’m extroverted. Why?
Simple. Because I ask questions.
Recently, my husband and I were at a church banquet for our daughter, who was moving out of the middle school ministery into high school. Our church does nice things like that. The student leaders all get up and say something special about each particular student to help them transition into the wild world of high school and such. Anyway, it was a semi-formal event. It’s been ages since I was at one of those kinds of functions. I felt awkward and pensive because I had to wear an actual dress and heels. In front of other people and not just my mirror, no less!
So I was mentioning this random little musing to another mother at our table that I know fairly well enough to know that she wouldn’t look at me as if I were from another galaxy. She expressed surprise that I felt out of place and unsure. When I told her that I always feel like that in a room full of people I don’t know, she told me she was shocked, because she thought I was always so at ease with most people.
My turn to be shocked. Because I’m not at ease at all. I still feel like the frightened little 6 year old blushing at the mere thought of having to say “hi” to my dad’s boss’s wife.
So as I lay in bed pondering this little nugget of information that night, I wondered how I could feel so shy and reticent, yet seem to be outgoing and genial. Now, maybe some of you that know me could weigh in on this one; perhaps she picked up on something entirely different than what you see in me. If so, please let me know. I’m curious.
But all that I could come up with was that I ask a lot of questions of other people. I really would rather deflect the spotlight off of me. Maybe other people think I’m friendly because I’m asking about them. Of course, I do talk about me, my life, and other stuff as well, but not nearly as much, because it’s scary letting people in.
My grandfather was very good at asking questions. My mom and one of my sons does this too.
I don’t think I’m extroverted and loquacious. In fact, I know I’m not. But one can act like an extrovert.
Don’t you think so?
Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Drivers
Today, my second child got his driver’s license.
I hate it that he passed the driving exam.
No, not really, but then again, absolutely yes.
I’m just not ready for him to be this grown up. I’m not ready for him to be out on the vewwy scawwy roads where there are so many half-witted drivers not paying attention to the roads that my baby will be driving on.
I’m not ready for him to have this degree of independence. I kind of liked having some “alone” time with him in the car as he learned to drive. (Just for the record, he hated those sessions because I often clenched my teeth, gripped the door handle, and on very rare occasions, raised my voice just a tad too loudly.)
I know I’ll get over this feeling; I’m pretty nonchalant anymore about my oldest driving. And I do have to say that this child has been driving pretty sophisticated lawnmowers and tractors for a few years, so I know he’s a very capable driver.
Still… driving means that in a few years time he’ll be leaving.
I love my alone time. And I love my couple time with my husband.
But I also just really love my kids. I like having them around.
When they drive though, they’re not around as much. I’m having a hard time with that one – even though I homeschool – because it’s hard to not see him as just my “baby” anymore, but a responsible young adult….
Why is it so hard to let go?
Strawberry Salsa
I have a gazillion more strawberry recipes I’ll share with you in the next few days, because my refrigerator and freezer still runneth over from those beautiful red gems.
Today though, I’ll share a mango salsa recipe that I’ve re-jiggered with strawberries.
If I had to choose a final meal, rather than pizza, fried chicken, lasagna, or something “normal,” I’d probably choose grilled tilapia with warm mango salsa from Bonefish Grill. I love this meal in an abnormal way. I crave it. In fact, after my first marathon, my husband took me to Bonefish, and it was all I could do to wait for it to arrive at the table – my appetite was waaaayy off the charts! It’s full of protein, super tasty, and not a heavy meal at all. Perfect for having just run 26 miles. Or, for that matter, perfect for a day sitting around watching Sandra Dee movies too.
I’ve found the recipe for the Bonefish Grill warm mango salsa online, so I merely switched strawberries for the mango. I imagine it would be delicious on chicken or fish, but this night I used it over a jerk pork tenderloin. It was pretty wonderful.
The recipe at Bonefish doesn’t use fresh jalapenos, but I like them, so I substituted those for the red chili flakes. It also provides a little extra color. This salsa can be served either warm or cold – it was great lightly warmed in the microwave over the pork loin, but it’s fabulous cold over fish tacos!
2 C diced strawberries, washed and tops cut off
1/2 C diced yellow or orange pepper
1/2 C diced red onion
1 T fresh garlic, chopped
1 small to medium diced jalapeno, depending on your heat likability
1/4 C chopped fresh cilantro
2 T scallions, chopped
3 T olive oil
3 T light corn syrup
1 T lime zest
juice of 1 small lime
salt and pepper to taste*
Chop the first 7 ingredients and mix together. Mix olive oil, lime zest, and lime juice together; pour over salsa. Add salt and pepper to taste, and then mix thoroughly. Let the salsa sit in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours for the flavors to meld. Serve with chips, on tacos, over fish or poultry.
*I am a big fan of Jane’s Krazy Mixed-Up Salt and use it for most things calling for salt and pepper. It not only has salt and pepper in it, but herbs and spices too.
For printable version, click on the recipe name
Gap-a-licious Bargain
Recently, my daughter went to a middle school youth conference in Cincinnati. My parents grew up in Cincinnati. I used to spend summers there. Aside from my own kitchen, it’s my happy place… to eat…
And to shop.
Yes, there are so many other fabulous places to shop: NYC, Atlanta, Boston, San Francisco, and the list goes on and on. But at this point in my life, everything is about the word bargain.
I coupon. I use coupon apps on my phone. I have an app to find the cheapest gas wherever I’m going. I scour the Sunday ads in the paper. I shop at consignment and thrift shops.
I do all this so I can afford to keep one son in decent shoes, the other son current on his college tuition, buy hair products for my lusciously curly-headed girl, subscribe to satellite TV sports for my husband, keep food in the fridge, gas in the car, and a whole host of other expenses. You get the idea, because you’re doing it too…
So when it comes to ultimate clothes shopping bargains, I head to Cincinnati. Why? What’s so great about Cincinnati clothes bargains?
Um… the Gap Clearance Center.
Technically, it’s not in Cincinnati; it’s south of the Ohio River in Hebron, KY, very close to the Cincinnati airport.
What’s so fabulous about it that I would write a whole post about it?
Um… the great Gap brands (Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piper Lime, Athleta) at unbeatable prices.
For instance, when I was there last month, all women’s jeans were just $4.99! Banana Republic jeans that retail for $80+ dollars for just… $4.99.
They’re not always $4.99. The prices vary and are always different every time I’m there. Once, women’s jeans were $11.99, and another time they were a mere $1.99 a pair. (Wow!) I’d say on average, though, they aren’t much higher than the $11.99 price. Same for men’s jeans too. You just never know what deal you’ll get, but shoot! It’s rare to find a pair of jeans at Walmart for only 12 bucks.
The clothing at the Gap Clearance Center is comprised of returns, overstock items, and some damaged goods. Because sometimes a zipper might not work, a button is missing, or there is a small stain or rip, you need to be very careful before you decide to buy. That said, I have found clothing with stains or rips, and I’ve bought them anyway. After years of doing laundry and sewing for my family, I’m pretty good at deciphering what can be salvaged by a wash and a mend.
The store has clothing for men, women, children, babies, and also athletic apparel. Depending on what time of year you go, sweaters, shorts, winter coats, bathing suits, and pajamas might be in stock. Jeans, t-shirts, trousers, dress shirts for women, golf shirts for men, kids clothing, shoes and accessories are always on the racks.
I’m always pretty amazed at the kind of things I can find for a rock-bottom price. Most of the time, the store sales tag is still on the clothing item, so you can see exactly how much you’re saving. For instance, I once bought a brown leather bomber-style Gap jacket for $30. The original tag was for around $170-ish dollars; I know I wouldn’t have bought it at that price!
If I’m lucky, I’ll get to Cincinnati a couple times a year, and I always make a stop at the clearance center. I can buy between 8 – 10 items apiece for each of the 5 people in my family and spend somewhere between $150 – $200 dollars total. Even going twice a year, if I only spent $400/yr. to clothe my family, that’s incredible!
In fact, one year as I was taking the tags off the clothes to run them through the wash, I decided to add up what the full cost would have been, had I actually bought the clothing in the retail stores rather than the clearance center. For a purchase of just under $200, I discovered I would have spent about $750 otherwise!
That’s what I call a bargain extraordinaire.
I like to shop for clothes. My husband would rather I didn’t.
I like to save $$$. My husband likes that I like to save $$$.
But honestly? He doesn’t mind that I shop for clothes at the Gap Clearance Center.
It makes us both happy.
Lent Every Day
My religious community has never really practiced Lent. In fact, when I was growing up, I watched my Catholic friends with a bit of awe as they gave up things like gum, soda, TV, video games (PONG! Pacman!) and the like. It’s something I never quite understood.
But a few years ago, I was reading Guidepost magazine, and came across an article about a woman who decided to give up Peanut M & M’s for Lent. Having never thought about it before, it was like a smack in the face because I love. Love. LOVE Peanut M & M’s. I pretty much always have them in the house. (A while ago when my husband was doing the South Beach diet and we were really paying attention the glycemic index, I saw that all things considered, Peanut M & M’s were fairly low on the index for a chocolate-y candy. Although I was partial to them before, I’ve been über loyal to them ever since.)
But back to business: I saw that I, too, had a weakness, a physical temptation, if you will, for Peanut M & M’s. They were a habit I relied on far too much. And I thought about participating in Lent the following year by giving them up.
Except… I didn’t.
But it was always in the back of my mind. I thought it was something I should do.
Sometime.
And then this year, I felt strongly that I should give up something for Lent. Peanut M & M’s definitely came to mind, but after consideration, there were just so many things I relied on too much. Too many habits. Too many weaknesses.
The more I thought about it, not only was I tempted by physical things, I gave too much credence to silly things. Things like reading too many news websites on the internet first thing in the morning. I spend too much time on Facebook. I watch movies that I’ve already seen 13 times. I read fluff instead of reading meat. I download apps for my phone that I say will make my life easier, but in reality they just take more of my time away… It’s time away from devoting my full attention to the people that mean the most in my life – my husband and children. My friends too. And to a large degree, things that take time away from me, even. But really, it’s not about taking away from my husband, my kids, my to-do list, my friends, or myself. It’s about these things taking my focus off of living a more Christ-like life.
That’s just the time-wasters though. What about eating too many sweets? What about chocolate? Ice cream after dinner? Nachos? A handful of chips instead of an apple? Pizza? Again, too many fillers and not enough sustenance.
Fillers and not enough sustenance. That pretty much sums up what Lent is all about in my mind. In trying to satisfy an emptiness in my body, my soul, I adopt the wrong things. Instead of filling myself with Him, I fill myself with all manner of… nothings.
And it literally takes taking something I (mistakenly) depend on out of my life, to show me what I should absolutely be connected and committed to.
The thing is… Lent is only 40 days out of 365. What about those other 325? Only 40 days of my year that I see just how incredibly weak I am… Only 40 days out of my year that I know how utterly foolish I’ve been in making other things my god instead of the one true God…
I can hardly believe Lent is just once a year.
I need to celebrate Lent every day.
Because that’s how often I need to be reminded of what really matters.
What to do with Strawberries, Strawberries, and More Strawberries
Yesterday, I shared with you my story of real romance, or How My Husband Lovingly Bought Me 5 Flats of Strawberries. Back then, I made and canned many, many jars of strawberry jam. But even eating as many PB & J’s as we do, I still have several jars of jam sitting on shelves.
So this time, when I got just two flats of strawberries, I needed to find some creative things to do with them. I did freeze some, but I also wanted something beyond the normal strawberry fare. And my husband is on Weight Watchers, so I needed to find food that didn’t put him over the edge. So here are two things that I made, and the recipes to go along…. (I made a LOT more than this; I foresee several days of strawberry recipes to post!)
My husband’s favorite fruit flavor of ice cream is strawberry. Go figure! But all the cream and eggs might be a little much for someone aiming to lose some weight. I found a recipe instead for Strawberry Sherbet. Even though there’s still sugar in it, and the recipe called for cream, I adapted the Cooks Illustrated recipe using milk rather than the cream. It tastes pretty darn wonderful still.
2 cups strawberries, hulled
3/4 C sugar
1/2 C water
pinch salt
3 T lemon juice
2 Tbsp. vodka*
1/2 C low-fat milk + 2 T heavy cream
Place the berries, sugar, water, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a soft boil over medium-high heat. Cook just until the blackberries start to pop and release their juice.
Transfer the berries and liquid to a blender. Gently pulse the berries to break them up and then puree until smooth. (Be careful here–hot liquid and tight blender lids can lead to burns and splatters!)
Strain the puree through a fine mesh sieve into a clean bowl. Press and scrape the solids along the bottom of the sieve to get as much puree as possible; leaving only seeds behind.
Add the lemon juice and vodka. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator about 2 hours.
In a separate bowl, mix together the milk plus the heavy cream. Slowly pour into the fruit puree.
Turn on your ice cream maker and while it’s running, pour the cream/fruit mixture through the feed hole. Churn according to manufacturer directions. Transfer finished sherbet to a plastic bowl with a tight-fitting lid. Freeze for a few hours until firm before serving. Makes about 1 quart.
*Vodka helps keep the sherbet softer and easier to scoop.
On Sunday mornings we’re normally out of bed, and in the car on our way to church before it’s even 8. So I like to have something ready to go that we can nibble on while we’re getting ready, or take in the car with us. I’ve discovered that I can make muffin batter, put it the little cupcake papers in the actual muffin tin, and freeze them in the tins. When they’re frozen, I just pop the frozen muffins into a plastic bag and keep frozen until I’m ready to use them again. When I’m ready, I place each muffin (in the paper) back into the tin and thaw them. I can place them in the oven overnight, set the timer for sometime that morning, and Voilà! They’re fresh and hot out of the oven as we walk out the door…
1 stick butter, softened
3/4 C sugar
1 egg
2 C flour
2 T baking powder
1/2 t salt
1/2 C milk
1/2 t vanilla
2 C hulled and chopped fresh strawberries
3 T sugar
1/2 t cinnamon
Cream butter and sugar. Add egg and mix well.
Sift flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. Add flour mixture and milk alternately to butter mixture. Add vanilla. Gently stir in strawberries.
Spoon batter into muffin pans.
Combine sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over muffins.
Bake at 400º for 20-25 minutes.
Makes 1 1/2 dozen muffins.
If you’d like a printable recipe, please click on the recipe name!
See you soon with more strawberry delights…
Beyond Strawberry Shortcake and a Tale of True Romance
Once upon a time, my husband, in a wonderful display of romance, bought me 5 flats of Plant City strawberries. I grew up not too awfully far from Plant City, Florida, and more than once, my mom and I drove over to eat our way through the strawberry fields whilst picking some for later.
So it was with much joy in our little town near the Smoky Mountains that a few years ago, a man would bring a van full of Plant City, Florida strawberry flats, and sell them on the side of the road.
My husband, who often has to listen to some of the many things I miss about living in Florida (shuttle launches and landings, the beach, fresh seafood at the grocery store, the beach, Sea World, picking strawberries in the “winter,” the beach, wearing shorts year-round, fresh-squeezed orange juice on Christmas morning, Disney, and the beach to name a few) has done his absolute best to satisfy some of those longings when he can.
For instance, every year for Christmas he buys me a bag of oranges. You may think I’m crazy, but I think it’s one of the most romantic things he’s ever done for me. Especially that first year…
Having grown up mainly in Florida, I equate the Christmas breakfast feast with fresh-squeezed orange juice. Oranges are always in season around Christmas time. And if we didn’t have an orange tree, somebody we knew did… until we moved to the mountains of Tennessee. Practically despondent that first Christmas here, my husband surprised me with a bag of oranges. Say what you will, but I remember that gift and have absolutely no recollection of any others I may have received that year…. That’s what I call real romance.
So a few years ago, when my husband saw a van parked on the side of the road advertising Plant City strawberries, he just knew he had to buy some. And not just some, a lot of them. 5 flats of them. If you don’t know how many 5 flats are, remember those little green baskets of strawberries you can buy at the grocery? There are 12 of those baskets in a flat.
That’s a LOT of strawberries.
To put it mildly.
Even more so, when you don’t have enough refrigerator/freezer space to store them.
Especially when you didn’t have your day planned around 5 flats of strawberries.
He thought he was being romantic – and he was. He just didn’t know how much work 5 flats of strawberries was going to be. He thought he would make me happy – and he did.
After the fact.
Because I spent 3 days in a strawberry coma.
Besides freezing a LOT of them, and eating a LOT of them (who needs Benefiber when you’re eating your way through 5 flats of strawberries???), I also made 12 pint jars and 6 qts. of strawberry jam, strawberry cake, strawberry shortcake, strawberry jello, and strawberry smoothies out the wazoo (literally).
Alas, the strawberry man went missing a couple years ago.
But this year, he was back.
My husband called to see how many flats I wanted.
Two.
He helped me clean them this time. He helped me cut the tops off this time. He helped me cook this time. He helped me freeze them this time. He helped me clean all the red juice off the floor this time.
And he apologized for ever bringing me 5 flats of strawberries once upon a time. He learned his lesson.
That’s true romance for ya.
Tomorrow: The recipes for my 2 flats of strawberries
A Foodie that Coupons too…
The economy has tanked. Is still tanking. And you have a family to feed. But prices – gas prices, utility prices, and especially food prices – are soaring. I just saw today that from this time last year, butter prices are up 27%, ground beef 6.5%, potatoes 7%, coffee 16%, and cheddar cheese 9%. So to be able to pay your mortgage, fill up your car, and keep the heat going, you cut back on life’s so-called luxuries. When that’s not enough, you cut back on what you buy – or how much you buy – at the grocery store.
And that’s crummy, because you’re a foodie.
And you like to cook.
And above all, you like to eat.
In fact, you have to eat.
So how do you manage?
Well, I coupon. You probably do too.
But how do you coupon? Do you cut out coupons, and then use them only when you remember to bring them to store? Or do you actively plan your grocery trips based on the coupons you have? Or are you in between?
Remember to bring them <———————–> Plan your trip around coupons
I’m somewhere in between, but much closer to to the side that plans a grocery list based on what coupons I have. And more importantly, I plan based on using the coupons that I have to buy what’s on sale. Thus, I save the most money.
No, I don’t shop at the bargain grocery. And no, I don’t buy generic.
I buy brands and save even more than if I bought generic.
Being a foodie, I’m partial to certain foods. Rotel Tomatoes, for instance. I use them in salsa, chili, soups, pasta sauces, and more. Usually they cost anywhere from .62¢ to .79¢ a can at the store, but if you can find it on sale for less – they were on sale for .42¢ at Kroger a few weeks ago – and then use a coupon for say, .30¢, you can buy that can for .12¢! Which brings me to my next point:
I buy as many items on sale that I have coupons for.
Every week, I buy at least 2 extra newspapers for their coupon inserts. Sometimes more, depending on what I know will be in those inserts each Sunday. I make a lot of soups in the winter, so it makes sense to buy as many cans of Rotel at .12¢ as possible. My sister-in-law started me on the Grocery Game a couple of years ago, and the theory behind “playing”the Grocery Game (or just being a frugal, wise shopper!) is to stockpile grocery items when they are at their lowest price. Retailers operate on cycles – think: winter coats on sale in August, and bathing suits on sale in February – so it makes sense that grocery stores would do the same.
Butter, cheese, meat, laundry detergent, pet food, and most other grocery items will go on sale every 12 weeks. I buy as much of those that I need to get me through at least those 12 weeks. If you pay attention, use the Grocery Game, Coupon Mom, or Southern Savers (I live in the South), you’ll see that coupons usually are published prior to the grocery store sale for that particular item. Often, Grocery Store A will have the item on sale one week, and Grocery Store B will have it on sale the following week. So….
I buy at several different stores to get the lowest prices.
Certain stores offer deals on certain items pretty consistently. While most groceries sell cosmetics, shampoos, razors, toothpaste, Walgreens or CVS sell more of those items because they make up a larger percentage of their much smaller inventories. Therefore they can mark down those items more often, and at deeper discounts. Likewise, you can buy ice cream at CVS, but a grocery sells more of it, so the grocery will knock off extra just to get you in to the store.
I go where the discounts are.
And that saves me money. I shop at one grocery that tracks my savings using store sales AND coupons, and prints out my total year’s savings at the bottom of every receipt. My last receipt in December showed that I had saved over $1500 in 2010. That’s only for that chain!
Saving that $1500 made me feel better about buying – still a very good deal – a $4.99 bag of black wild rice at Trader Joe’s last month. The $1.99 bag of “luxury” vanilla beans at Jungle Jim’s last week too…
I like cooking with those luxury items. Further, I like that I can afford to buy them from time to time, knowing that I’ve saved $$$ on my necessities.
See? You can save money and still eat like a gourmand!
Tomorrow: My coupon book
