Christmas Decorations 2022

 This year, with both girls in college, I didn't decorate as much for Christmas as I have in the past. That being said, there are things I do enjoy putting up each year. 

One of the things I put on the windows each year is the collection of window stars that I have made throughout the years. These are the stars on the dining room and living room windows. 

 

One of my favorite things is the St. Nicholas Village that I have in the dining room. A couple of the buildings belonged to my parents who had a little village set up in the living room. 

In 2018, we had a fire at our farm. The building where the majority of our bins with Christmas decorations were stored burned to the ground...and with it many of the little buildings that my parents owned. It was very disappointing. However, the following year at Christmas I was thrilled to see that I had transferred a couple of the buildings already to the basement.

So, starting in 2020 I began adding buildings and people to the village. I go to the second-hand store and look for St. Nicholas Christmas Village boxes. This year, I found a ski chalet (far left in the picture below) and a home with Christmas lights (far right in the photo above). 

This year, on September 6th, my step-father-in-law died. Two of the things we inherited were these Santa figurines. I put them on our woodstove (when we don't have fires in it) so we can see them each day.

I put the stockings that I made for each person in our family (on the left) and our dogs (on the right). As I look at the stockings, it seems really bare in comparison to past years when we had many more animals - stockings for 4 family members and 13 pets (4 dogs, 6 cats, 2 horses, and 1 hedgehog). 

Right before Thanksgiving, one of our senior dogs - Scooby - died. He was 15 (almost 16) years old. So, it's hard to see only 3 dog stockings up there.

In the family room, I have a couple of Santas. If I open them up, there are smaller Santas inside them. I don't know where I got there...maybe an antique store?

For our Christmas tree, we were given one which was nice. Normally, we go to a local Christmas tree farm and cut a tree, but it didn't work with both of the girls' schedules when they were home for Thanksgiving. 

So, I put a bunch of lights on the tree (about seven or eight strings of lights) and added a few ornaments. This is one that I got for either Sophia or Olivia when they were younger and received gifts from St. Nicholas on December 6th. 

This is another ornament from Gammelgarden Museum (a historical museum that focuses on the Swedish immigrant experience). I always thought it was a horse. It's not. It's a goat...a Yule goat.

This is one of the ornaments I inherited from my parents when they died. This one features blue jays. There are two other ornaments with birds that are commonly seen here. 

This is one of many ornaments that Sophia, Olivia, and I made when the girls were much younger when I was homeschooling them (in early elementary school age). They were clear ornaments and we put acrylic paint in them that we swirled around. The result was these marbled-looking ornaments. 

In the family room, I have the flag from my dad's burial (he was a Korean War veteran). I put little nativity figurines in front of the flag. My dad, who was a deacon later in his life, would have loved these little figurines.

I have a nativity scene in the living room. Between last year and this year, one of the kings broke (the leg came off). I need to glue on the parts I can, but it won't fix his leg completely. I have had this nativity set since the girls were little - so probably a good 20 years now.

This is the advent wreath that Sophia made last year when we went to St. Croix Falls. There was a church that was offering this free craft using wood from a tree that had fallen down about a month earlier. They provided the (fake) greenery, candles, and decorations. 

Outside, I have lights that are strung on t-posts. For the past couple of years we had smaller lights. However, they were damaged last year by an animal that chewed through the cords - a rabbit...I have no idea. At any rate, it was frustrating to have to toss the lights. I do like these, lights, though. They are colorful and festive, and they are a nice welcome home when I come home in the dark. I also like seeing all the colors reflected on the snow when I wake up in the morning and it is dark outside.

So, that's some of the Christmas decorations around our home this year. Some new...some old...and the majority attached to memories that sustain me throughout the month of December. 

10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget - Book Notes

 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget by the Writers of Wise Bread did, indeed, have a lot of ideas for saving money. However, many I am already doing or they did not relate to my life. 

There were a handful of ideas, though, that I thought were interesting and relevant to events coming up in my life, or that I didn't know including:

- Leftover coffee can be made into frozen coffee cubes. When you do frozen coffee drinks, you can use these frozen cubes so it doesn't dilute the strength of the beverage.

- Take photos of your travel documents and send them to yourself via email. If anything unfortunate happens to the actual documents, you will save a lot of time, hassle, and money by having that information readily available.

- Stretch and strengthen your hamstrings. With more sitting, the hamstrings don't get the stretching or exercise they need. If you suffer from lower back pain, knee problems, hip aches, ankle soreness - all of these can be tied to weak and/or tight hamstrings. 

- For parties (like a graduation party) - do a dessert party or serve ice cream with a variety of toppings. Limit liquids - serve lemonade or a limited number of soft drinks rather than lots of combinations. 

- Accessorize events with flowers from club or warehouse stores. They are cheaper there.

The Buy Nothing, Get Everything Plan - Book Notes

As I'm looking for ways to save money, I came across the book The Buy Nothing, Get Everything Plan - Discover the Joy of Spending Less, Sharing More, and Living Generously by Liesl Clark and Rebecca Rockefeller. They are the founders of the Buy Nothing Project. 

Some ideas that I liked from the book: 

- Give creatively and often. Give freely, without any strings attached, for the pure joy of it. 

- Create a gift economy group. Announce your intention and invite people to join. Host a monthly gifts-and-food potluck. Gather together a core group of givers and receivers. Have a free box at the end of your driveway. Encourage farmers' markets to do a weekly share group as well.

- Gift an item that has a simple story. Then gift yourself - something you've made (e.g., baked good with the recipe, a craft, sewn item, a trip to a museum, playing cards). Then gift an item that has a meaningful story that you no longer want.

- See buynothinggeteverything.com

- For every 10,000 tons of waste handled in a year, reuse creates 28 jobs (wooden pallet repair, for example) to 296 jobs (computer reuse). Landfills and incinerators create 1 job for every 10,000 tons of annual waste. 

- Reuse trumps Recycling. 

- The clothing industry is the second-biggest polluter in the world behind the oil industry. We are buying more clothing and wearing it for shorter amounts of time.

- Coffee grounds can be sprinkled at the base of blueberry plants.

- Make beeswax cloth wrap instead of cling wrap.

- Garden Share - invite people to come to your house once a month and bring with them perennials, cuttings, and veggie starts from their gardens to share with the group. It is like a garden plant potluck. 

- Really Really Free Market in Minneapolis. There's one at East Phillips Park that's popular. People take back with them anything that they have brought that nobody has taken. (Signed up on their Facebook page.)

- Share fabric scraps for quilting.

Living Well Spending Less - Book Notes

This past week I read Living Well Spending Less by Ruth Soukup. 

Although there was a lot of information I already was taught or knew, there were still some new things that I learned. Below are some things that I thought were helpful:

These are some of the quotes that were in the book that I liked: 

- What would happen if we took the time to actually write down our current priorities? How would our perspective change if we took just a few moments to determine what it is we want most out of life?

- If I were to die tomorrow, what would people remember me for?

- If you are discontent, consider that:

- You are reading a book (people in many countries in the world have tightly restricted access to books, newspapers, and the internet)
- You are not hungry - 870 million people or roughly 1/8 of the world's population, are suffering from chronic hunger.
- You have access to medicine - between 1.3 and 2.1 billion people in the world do not have access to even the most basic medicines

- You can drive - only 9% of the world's population owns a vehicle.

- You can turn on the lights - 1.2 billion people don't have access to electricity.

- You are not thirsty - 780 milllion people in the world lack access to clean water.

- You have a place to sleep tonight - 100 million people do not have homes around the world, including between 600,000 and 2.5 million homeless right in the United States.

- Find someone you can bless today.

- Living in our sweet spot means not only taking the time to discover our passions and to realize what it is we were made to do, but also being willing to take the next step.

- Taking the time to write down your vision of the future not only forces you to self-evaluate and to decide what is most important, but it also motivates you to act on those dreams.

- Do Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University and resources on DaveRamsey.com

- Put your most important tasks first each day. 

- Take the first 30 minutes of your day to work only on long-term goals.

- Eliminate things in your day that don't align with your priorities and are taking up time but not adding value.

- Do our choices match our calling - our vision, goals, passions, and dreams?

- Stuff isn't bad or dangerous in and of itself, but in a world where we are constantly told that what we have isn't quite good enough, the love of things can so easily consume us. The pursuit of it all...makes us forget all the things that actually matter.

- Less stuff equals more joy.

- Give your children a life filled with the things that matter most, things like faith, joy, peace, fellowship, contentment, gratitude, and compassion.

- Cut all nonessential spending for one month. Only spend on normal bills and perishable food items (e.g., bread, milk, vegetables). Everything else is off-limits.

- As I was growing up, the first and only rule of money was that we didn't talk about money.

- Only 32% of Americans actually prepare a detailed budget each month and only 24% have a long-term financial plan.

- Create a stockpile in your pantry or cupboards of the grocery staples and food items your family eats.

- Consider going meatless or two days a week.

- When was the last time you reached out to a friend to find out how they were doing, without the ulterior motive of sharing your own latest news? 

- When was the last time you picked up the phone just to catch up, or dropped off a meal just because you knew they could probably use it?

- If friendships are to be a priority in your life, you have to be purposeful about making time for your friends, even when you are busy.

- Creativity is born out of limitations rather than out of abundance.

- Ways to cultivate more creativity in your life:

- Read more - the more you read, the more you know. Reading engages your brain and makes it work better.

- Reflect

- Ask questions

- Pay attention

- Play

- Brainstorm

- Rest

- Cultivate and enjoy the creativity of the people around you.

- Give of your time and talents:

- Cook or bake: deliver a meal to a sick friend, neighbor, or shut-in; volunteer to cook in a local soup kitchen or women's shelter, or send a care package to a college student or soldier. 

- Good with children: become a Big Brother/Big Sister, become a tutor, volunteer to read at the local library or school.

- Love animals: volunteer at a local animal shelter, volunteer at a local wildlife center, 

- Introvert: shelve books at the local library, volunteer at the local food pantry, donate blood, write encouraging notes or cards to teachers, friends, neighbors, soldiers, prisoners, or other people who may feel lonely or discouraged.

- Outdoorsy: volunteer at the local park or work in a local community garden. 

- Serve in love in your home:

- Offer genuine encouragement and know what's going on in their days.

- Show grace - forgive and forget without harboring a grudge or resentment.

- Be generous - give freely and generously of your time, energy, and resources. Take care of the home and cook meals. Help out without being asked and without expecting anything in return.

- Slow down - if overcommitted, then be intentional about eliminating the things that don't need to be done so you can have more time to just be.

- Have fun - laugh and play games with your family. Go for walks or bike rides. Spend a day at the beach. Do something completely unexpected, just for fun. 

- Make a list of three areas in your life where you could stand to be more generous.

- How many hours a week or month do you spend volunteering or doing service work? Make a plan to volunteer or serve some time in the next month.

- Write down three goals for making improvements in serving those people closest to you. Give the best of yourself to your spouse and children.

QUOTES 

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of the intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that one life has breathed easier because you lived here. This is to have succeeded." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

"Contentment makes poor men rich. Discontentment makes rich men poor." (Benjamin Franklin)

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." (1 Timothy 6:6-8)

"The greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not our circumstances." (Martha Washington) 

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23)

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves." (Romans 12:9-10)

"People are most successful when they are in their sweet spot. Your sweet spot is the intersection where your passion meets your greatest strength." (Ken Coleman)

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." (Romans 12:6-8)

"Things that matter most should never be at the mercy of things that matter least." (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

Add these quotes to the purple book of quotes that I keep:

"Have nothing in your houses that you don't know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." (William Morris)

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:11-13)

"We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like." (Dave Ramsey)

"The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty." (Proverbs 21:5)

"A bargain ain't a bargain if it is not something you need." (Sidney Carroll)

"I am thankful for a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home...I am thankful for the piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby." (Nancie J. Carmody)

"You aren't really wealthy until you have something that money can't buy." (Garth Brooks)

"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give." (Winston Churchill)

Creamy Skinny Pasta Casserole

During January, I have been trying to use up what we have in the freezer and refrigerator. Not only has this saved a lot of money, but it has challenged me to look for new recipes to use this food. 

Today, I was looking for something that would use frozen ground chicken. I found Creamy Skinny Pasta Casserole by Taste of Home. As a bonus, there were five other items in the recipe that I had on hand that I could use. 

The recipe took about 30 minutes to prep and bake, and Taste of Home says there's about six servings. I would say there's more like 8-9 servings.

Ingredients 

12 ounces uncooked whole wheat penne pasta (I used regular pasta)

1 pound lean ground chicken 

1 small onion, finely chopped 

1 teaspoon garlic powder, divided 

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (I used a combination of oregano, marjoram, and rosemary, and about 2 teaspoons)

1/2 teaspoon salt 

1/4 teaspoon pepper 

1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained (I used 2 cans)

3 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese 

1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream 

1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided 

Optional: Minced fresh parsley and crushed red pepper flakes (I did the red pepper flakes, but not parsley)

Directions 

Preheat oven to 400°. Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente. Drain, reserving 1/3 cup pasta water; return all to the pot. 

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook and crumble chicken with onion, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder and remaining seasonings over medium-high heat until no longer pink, 5-7 minutes. Stir in tomatoes; bring to a boil. 

Add to pasta; toss to combine. Transfer to a 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. 

Mix cream cheese, sour cream, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese and remaining garlic powder. Drop mixture by tablespoonfuls over pasta. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. 

Bake, uncovered, until cheese is melted, 8-10 minutes. If desired, sprinkle with parsley and pepper flakes.

What the Amish Can Teach Us About the Simple Life (Book Notes/Review)

I recently read What the Amish Can Teach Us About the Simple Life - Homespun Hints for Family Gatherings, Spending Less, and Sharing Your Bounty by Georgia Varozza.

Having been raised by parents who grew up during the Great Depression, there were many ideas in the book that I already knew. My parents were great role models in how to live simply and frugally, yet not feel like you're living in poverty. They created a life of joy and meaning and centered it around family and the beauty of nature. Of course, they also were very religious so that also was a key component in our lives.

My sister, grandma, me, dad, and brother celebrating my birthday.

My mom made a cake from scratch which was always the highlight. 

It looks like I was six years old. So, this was in June 1972.

Some things that resonated with me from the book:

- We see [the Amish] ordered existence and a deep sense of belonging their quiet and peaceable lives - and we yearn for these same things in our own families.
- The Amish way of life highlights the family. There is never a time when a person is considered a liability, no matter if young, old, infirm, or disabled in some way. Each person is loved, honored, and welcomed in the family circle.
- Some ideas for doing a family fun night:
   => bird watch

Sandhill cranes that Sophia and I saw on August 16, 2020.

This is part of the gathering of 49 cranes.

   => take a walk in the park or hike on a nature trail
   => ride bikes
   => visit the library
   => enjoy a backyard cookout
   => pick a book to read aloud together
   => fly kites
   => make homemade pizzas
   => make your own sundaes. Have plenty of goodies to sprinkle on top
   => play group games
   => enjoy a classic movie
   => make birdhouses or bird feeders and put them in the yard

Two new feeders we added this summer. 

   => write letters to grandparents or loved ones
   => make a family flowerpot. Each person chooses one annual flowering pot to put in the pot
   => stargaze
   => enjoy a family campout
   => as a family, write and illustrate a story
   => create a family newsletter and send it to your relatives
   => go through your photos and talk about family history
   => grab some magnifying glasses and go on a backyard bug safari
   => go to an animal shelter to pet the cats and take some dogs for a walk
   => go on a treasure hunt. Write clues that lead to other clues. Send participants all over the house and yard in search of treasure you've hidden
- create family traditions
- celebrate special moments
   => birthdays and holidays
   => well-earned grade
   => first and last days of school
   => getting caught doing an act of kindness
   => a goal or achievement realized

We got a French silk pie (Olivia's favorite pie) to celebrate the 

plantings of two public gardens that were part of a 4-H leadership project

she led on August 22, 2020.

   => first day of a new season
- build community
   => start a new church activity or ministry (or through a volunteer organization)

One of the public gardens that Sophia, Olivia, and I 

planted with volunteers on August 22, 2020.

   => at each church or club gathering, learn the name of one person you don't know
   => organize "card showers" where people send encouraging cards to shut-ins, the elderly, people who are sick or injured, and people who are struggling
   => make a sunshine box for a family or individual who could use a bit of cheer and encouragement. Sunshine boxes consist of small wrapped gifts with a card that explains the recipient is to open one a day
   => organize a neighborhood spring yard cleanup. Plant some pretty annuals to brighten the neighborhood
- Plan a weekly or monthly menu and stick to it. When you buy your groceries, you'll know what items you need and how much to make the meals you have planned

Salad using items in the refrigerator and tomatoes from the garden.

- Consistently spend less than you make
- If you spend less, you'll need to earn less, which means you'll have more time to spend with your family and work on meaningful activities
- Pay off unsecured debt as quickly as is feasible
- To the greatest extent possible, shun all types of debt. If you have to borrow, don't borrow the maximum you're able to.
- De-clutter
- What we have has nothing to do with our worth. We worked to meet our needs, and our goal was well-being, not making money or having more possessions. And because we weren't in the habit of always wanting something new, we weren't as distracted by possessions.

Mediterranean Black Bean and Garbanzo Bean Salad

We're in the process of using up what we have in the cupboard during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today's recipe uses a couple of cans of beans as well as some fresh ingredients.

When I saw the pin on Pinterest for a Mediterranean Black Bean and Garbanzo Bean Salad, it leads to Yummly. However, the entre recipe doesn't show up. After I made the salad and looked back later at the Yummly website, I realized there is a link for the full directions.

We liked the flavor of the dressing, mint, and parsley combine with the different textures of the beans and onions. I think adding the feta cheese, avocado, and red pepper would definitely add more texture and flavor to the salad. I would use all these ingredients the next time I make this salad.

Ingredients

Salad
1 (15 oz) can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup diced red onion
feta cheese, optional but delicious (I didn't see this ingredient in the link, so didn't include it. I would next time)
1 medium avocado, chopped (I didn't see this ingredient in the link, so didn't include it. I would next time)
1 red pepper, chopped (I didn't see this ingredient in the link, so didn't include it. I would next time)

Dressing

2 cloves of minced garlic
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 1 lemon
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup chopped mint
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1 teaspoon honey

Instructions

In a large bowl, dump in rinsed and drained black beans, garbanzo beans, diced red onions, and chopped red pepper. Add in avocado.

Pour in fresh lemon juice, olive oil, honey, and garlic.

Then add chopped mint and parsley.

Gently toss to combine, making sure to incorporate the dressing in the bottom of the bowl.

Refrigerate 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld together.

Toss gently. Sprinkle feta on top if desired. Serve and enjoy!

Stock Your Pantry in 52 Weeks

One of the many things that my parents did well was stocking their pantry. They had multiple pantries depending on what they were storing. By the kitchen, there was a hallway closet that held an overflow of canned goods. On the other side of the hallway was another closet that held our coats and boots. There were two overhead shelves that held toiletries.

In the basement, we had a storage room where there stored canned goods, onions that were tied in pantyhose (this kept the onions good for the winter), and sometimes carrots packed in sand in bushel baskets. They didn't do the latter often because eventually the carrots would get soft and we no longer would want to eat them.

At any rate, I saw on Pinterest some plans to stocking your pantry - little by little - throughout a year. Some plans said that you could do this on $5 a week, others said $10 a week. The goal isn't just to amass these items, but use them when you run out of them. Then you would replenish what you use as needed.

It is so convenient to have items on hand when you need them, when there's an emergency (especially when there is no water, which has happened to us multiple times thanks to issues with our well), or when you run out and don't want to make a special trip to the store.

There wasn't one list on Pinterest that seemed to fit our needs, so I looked at a variety of lists and created one just for our family. I may modify it as I go along. When the week's item is purchased, the cost will be added to that line and the week number changed to bold-face and italics.

The items on the list are just the non-perishable ones. I did not do a plan for the freezer (which my parents also did exceptionally well at stocking and keeping track of the items).

Stock Your Pantry in 52 Weeks Plan

Week 1 – 10 gallons of water ($7.80)
Week 2 – 5 cans cream of chicken and/or mushroom soup (I did a combination of both types of soup and chose Campbell's Healthy brand since the sodium level was about 300 mg less than regular soup) ($6.65)
Week 3 – 8 pounds of sugar ($2.84)
Week 4 – 8 cans tomato soup (I already had four cans on hand, so I only purchased 4 more cans of soup) ($2.00)
Week 5 – 6 pounds macaroni ($5.88)
Week 6 – 10 pounds all-purpose flour ($2.36)
Week 7 – 1 pound regular salt; 1 grinder salt; 1 ice cream salt ($3.32)
Week 8 – 7 cans tuna ($10.01)
Week 9 – 1 can vegetable spray and 2 packages taco seasoning mix ($3.46)
Week 10 – 9 packages yeast (the jars of yeast were out because of people stocking up in preparation for Corona virus spreading in the U.S.). Because supplies were also getting low, I got items that we use and didn't want to be without: Dayquil, BC Powder, 4 containers of hot chocolate mix, 3 packages Kleenex, 4 rolls paper towels, 2 boxes cat litter, 1 box dishwasher soap, 12 rolls toilet paper (1 container), 1 bottle vitamins, 1 bottle Vitamin C, 2 bottles aloe vera gel (since anti-bacterial cleanser is out-of-stock now and it recommended to make your own), 2 packages Wet Ones, 3 packages anti-bacterial wipes for cleaning, 32 quarts powdered milk (this was more expensive because powdered milk was out at Walmart due to people stocking up for a potential Corona Virus outbreak in Minnesota), 3 packages of coffee, cleansers with bleach for handles and toilets ($159.21)
Week 11 –  6 jars spaghetti sauce (different varieties) ($11.04)
Week 12 – 1 box rice, 1 package Lysol wipes, 3 packages paper towels, 15 pounds cat litter, 1 container ketchup, 1 soy sauce, and 1 can wasabi peas, 2 Pho bowls, Bisquick, Nestle chocolate drink mix, hand soap, 2 molasses, 1 peanut sauce, 2 cooking oil, 2 drink/punch mix, panko, 2 jars of peanuts, 1 dish soap, 1 plastic wrap, 3 boxes of BC powder, trash bags, pop, 2 bags dog food, 2 Lysol sprays, 1 Clorax toilet bowl cleaner, 1 bottle Vitamin C, beef jerky, Clorax clean ups, 20 quarts of dry milk, 40 pounds of BBQ pellets, baby wipes, facial wipes, toilet paper ($257.48)
Week 13 – 2 bottles Vitamin C, 1 jar Miracle Whip, 1 container cashews, 1 jar dill pickles, creamer,  and 2 packages toilet paper ($76.28)
Week 14 – Peanuts, big bag flour, hot chocolate mix, mini marshmallows ($14.69)
Week 15 –  Toiletries (toothpaste, floss, shampoo, conditioner, razors) ($16.49)
Week 16 – 10 cans of beans (variety) ($10.84)
Week 17 – 1 bottle of vitamins ($8.03)
Week 18 – 1 container of oats and 2 containers shortening (free - through food program) 
Week 19 – 5 pounds of rice (variety of types) ($4.92)
Week 20 – 2 containers cooking oil (free - through food program) 
Week 21 – 5 cans of vegetables (e.g., mushrooms) ($7.01)
Week 22 – 2 jars peanut butter (free) and wasabi peas, ($4.43)
Week 23 – 2 jars peanuts, 5 jars spaghetti sauce, and hot chocolate mix ($23.70)
Week 24 – 5 containers of dry soup mix ($5.24)
Week 25 – 5 pounds corn flour (free - we have plenty on hand from a recipe that Olivia made in
                  April)
Week 26 – 2 boxes trash bags (2022 - we have two boxes of trash bags that we acquired in 2021)
Week 27 – 4 pounds sugar (2 each of powdered and brown)
Week 28 – 1 box baking soda and 1 container baking powder
Week 29 – 2 jars salad dressing
Week 30 – 10 jars of homemade canned tomatoes (will do in 2022)
Week 31 – 10 jars homemade pickles (will do in 2022)
Week 32 – 2 jars vinegar  
Week 33 – 2 boxes crackers
Week 34 – 5 jars of honey and 2 jars molasses
Week 35 – 3 bottles of hand sanitizer ($8.91), 2 bags of white sugar ($3.20), chocolate drink mix ($6.98), 2 boxes of cat litter ($16.74)
Week 36 (1st week of September) – 5 cans of soup and 2 jars Miracle Whip
Week 37 – 1 box of laundry detergent and 1 container of water freshener  + 1 box of laundry dryer sheets 2 boxes cereal
Week 38 – Natural cleansers (Thieves, hand soap, dish soap)
Week 39 – 5 cans fruit
Week 40 – 5 cans vegetables
Week 41 – 2 containers pancake syrup
Week 42 – 2 pounds dried fruit (e.g., raisins)
Week 43 - 1 jar each of rose water and orange water
Week 44 – 5 jars of spaghetti sauce
Week 45 – Juices (lemon, lime, apple, grape)
Week 46 – 2 cans cooking spray
Week 47 – 2 boxes stuffing mix and 2 boxes dry potatoes
Week 48 – 5 cans vegetables and 2 containers hot cocoa mix
Week 49 – Condiments (mustard, BBQ sauce, ketchup)
Week 50 – Condiments (soy sauce, parmesan cheese, Worcestershire sauce)
Week 51 – Snacks (popcorn, granola bars)
Week 52 – Toiletries (toilet paper, paper towels, Kleenex)

ESG: Scavenger Hunt - November 2018

For the November photo scavenger hunt on Swap-Bot, there were five items to find and photograph. Below are my photos.

A turkey 

Earlier this year, a fire destroyed our hobby shed where we stored all our holiday items. Thankfully, one of the bins of Thanksgiving items was in the basement. The little ceramic turkey was painted by Olivia when she was just beginning to learn how to pain ceramics (Kindergarten or first grade). There are a few other things that the girls made that were in the bin. We have such a feeling of gratitude that these reminders of their projects from their early years are still with us.

The other turkey is one that I bought this year. It reminded me of the paper decorations my mom had when I was growing up. I was always fascinated at how the flat pieces suddenly become three-dimensional decorations.

Something wet

On the Saturday over Thanksgiving weekend, we went to Interstate State Park in Taylors Falls. There are some intriguing rock formations at the park. Some of them were made by lava that was in the area back thousands of years ago.

The rocks below are wet in some areas. Although it had rained earlier in the day, it doesn't make sense why sections are wet and others are completely dry.

During our time at the park, we went on the River Trail which is a new trail that we had not explored. We walked on about half of it and turned around since we weren't appropriately dressed for the chilly weather on the overlook. The views were spectacular, though, of the St. Croix River that divides Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Something obsolete or outdated

When we were exploring Taylors Falls on Saturday, we went to the historical museum at the train depot. In all our years of living in this general area, we had never been to the museum.

There were some interesting exhibits about skiing in the area. There were skis from different decades. One pair - from the 1930s - was close to seven feet tall. The base of the ski poles had a circular metal base about the size of a small dinner plate. (In comparison, the bases are now smaller than one's hand.)

Something that was outdated - by nonetheless cute in its own way - was this statue of a tomten.

Images and statues of these little people are popular in this area. This tomten moved his head and upper body forward and back.

Something clever

Olivia and Sophia took a sewing workshop through 4-H earlier in November. The workshop focused on making earbud cases and teaching the youth how to incorporate a zipper into a project and how to sew in a circle.

The cases use small pieces of fabric and batting; and can be made as any size circle by tracing everyday objects in one's home - a plate, bowl, cup, or food container. It's a great way to use up fabric scraps that you have on hand.

The zippers were much longer than the finished cases. The girls learned how to make a long zipper into a functional shorter one which was interesting. I didn't even know that could be done.

Something good to eat

I tried a new recipe for turkey soup. It has two containers of chicken broth, 3 cups of shredded turkey (leftover from Thanksgiving), 1 can of black beans (drained and rinsed), 1 can of whole kernel corn, and 1/2 cup of salsa. The corn tortilla strips on top were baked in a 400 degree oven for about 7 minutes.

The soup tasted bland despite the salsa. We added some spices - like onion powder, chili powder, black pepper, sea salt, and red pepper flakes to give it more flavor. It was much better that way.

It was a good way to use up some of the leftovers in a different way than what we've done before.

Something That Made Me Happy - June (Dandelion Cottage)

Although there were many things that made me happy during June, one of the things that didn't have to do with family was reading the  book Dandelion Cottage by Carroll Watson Rankin.

Originally, I heard about this book in a homeschooling magazine. The focus of the article was on reading it aloud to one's children and then discussing the character qualities of the main characters and bringing elements of the book alive.

It ended up that by the time the local library was able to order it from another library in Minnesota, it was June. Sophia was heading into three weeks of back-to-back camp programs and Olivia was deep into preparing her 4-H projects for the fair.

So, I read the book myself. As I got into it, I realized that it would have been a delightful book to read to the girls when they were much younger. At 17 and 15 years old now, they are a bit too "old" for the book.

Olivia and Sophia at the Lions Community Breakfast.

(Taken in December 2017 when the girls were 14 and 16 year old.)

That being said, as I read the book and got deeper into the story, I found myself wishing to go back in time when things were much simpler and families were significantly more resourceful.

The book was published in 1904; and the author originally wrote it for her own children. The book focuses on four young girls who negotiate the use of a derelict cottage that belongs to a church for use as a playhouse. They are able to use the cottage because they pulled dandelions for the senior warden of the church, Mr. Black.

Sophia and Olivia with Gretel in a dandelion field.

(Taken on May 21, 2008 when the girls were 7 and 5 years old.)

They promise Mr. Black a home-cooked meal, and the girls find ways to earn money to pay for a proper meal. They sell lemonade made with a lemon, sugar, and water (not a powdered mix or frozen juice like nowadays); and take in a young female boarder who stays at the cottage for three weeks.

The girls, their siblings, and the border (Miss Blossom) all do things to improve the house and make it more sound and cozy. One of their brothers used tin from a can that was snipped and unrolled to make shingles and keep the rain out. The girls placed pictures all of the walls to hide damaged areas and holes.

This book made me happy in that for a period of time each day I treated myself to reading a story written more than 100 years ago. It was clear that - although things were financially challenging for families - there also were a lot of positive things about life back then.

As I read the book and thought about the playhouse the girls created from a shabby cottage that wasn't suitable to be rented, I thought of my sister and I playing as children in the nearby woods. We would make "houses" from sticks and limbs that had fallen to the ground. We created bedrooms and kitchens for our homes. There was so much imaginative play that we did...and we could lose track of time because we were having so much fun.

My sister and I sitting on the couch that 

was covered with a sheet.

(Taken in 1969.)

Thinking about these types of things makes me happy. My childhood was one that mirrored some aspects of the girls portrayed in Dandelion Cottage. They, too, played with dolls; enjoyed decorating their rooms and play space; did gardening; enjoyed cooking; and had tea parties.

Sophia and Olivia having a tea party with 

Hungarian food we made.

(Taken on October 29, 2008.)

These are all things I did as a child, so as I read the book it brought back happy memories of my childhood.

After reading the book, I found out that Mr. Black is based on a real-life person: Peter White. The original Dandelion Cottage still exists and is at 440 East Arch in Marquette, Michigan. It makes me want to visit there some day to see what the story was based upon.

Dandelion Cottage.

(Source)

So, Dandelion Cottage was something that made me very happy this month. It brought back so many wonderful memories of my childhood...and of my sister, brother, and parents; and of a time when things were infinitely more simple - yet meaningful.

Kikkomen Recipe and Sampling Party

I was chosen by Kikkoman and House Party to sample some Kikkoman products with family and friends. In the party pack, there was a $25 gift card for food, aprons, fabric markers, coupons for Kikkoman products, and recipe booklets. Each of the guests received an apron, coupon, and recipe booklet.

Olivia, Sophia, and my sister, Mary

We made two recipes together (chicken tacos and a beef stir fry), and sampled others I had made ahead of time (the soup and salad needed longer cooking and/or cooling times).

On Sunday, March 25th, we tried the following recipes found on Kikkoman's website:

Chicken Tacos

Ingredients

1 tablespoon Kikkoman® Sesame Oil
1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1/2 cup 1/2-inch diced onion
1/2 cup 1/2-inch diced red bell pepper
1/4 cup Kikkoman® Gluten-Free Less Sodium Teriyaki Marinade and Sauce
1 tablespoon Kikkoman® Gluten-Free Less Sodium Tamari Soy Sauce
6 (4-inch) corn tortillas, warmed
Optional: 2 cups tri-color slaw (green cabbage, red cabbage and carrots)
Optional toppings:
Additional Kikkoman® Gluten-Free Less Sodium Teriyaki and Kikkoman® Tamari Soy Sauce
Fresh cilantro leaves
Sliced green onions
Toasted sesame seeds
Pickled ginger

Instructions

Cut and prepare chicken and vegetables as noted above.

Prepare the garnishes as well.

Heat Kikkoman® Sesame Oil in a medium skillet set over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook for 3 to 4 minutes to brown.

Reduce heat to medium and add onion and bell pepper; cook for 3 minutes more.

 

Stir in Kikkoman® Gluten-Free Less Sodium Teriyaki Sauce and Kikkoman® Tamari Soy Sauce and cook for 2 minutes more.

Spoon equal amounts into warmed tortillas and top with cabbage slaw.

Serve with any desired toppings.

Makes 4-6 servings.

4 servings: (including slaw) 5 servings: (including slaw) 1.5g saturated fat 1g saturated fat 450mg sodium 360mg sodium 10g sugar 8g sugar 0g trans fat 0g trans fat


Teriyaki Meatballs

Ingredients

⅓ cup Kikkoman® Panko Bread Crumbs
1 egg, beaten
2 tablespoons Kikkoman® Soy Sauce
1 pound lean ground beef
¼ cup crushed pineapple, drained (optional - I didn't use)
Vegetable cooking spray
¼ cup Kikkoman® Teriyaki Takumi, Original

Instructions

Combine panko, egg and soy sauce in large bowl; let stand 5 minutes.

Add ground beef and pineapple; mix until thoroughly combined. Shape into small meatballs, 1 inch in diameter.

Arrange meatballs, 1 inch apart, on foil-lined shallow baking pan, lightly sprayed with cooking spray.

Bake in 375º F oven 12 to 15 minutes, or until meatballs are cooked through. Immediately transfer meatballs into large bowl and pour in teriyaki sauce. Toss well to coat all pieces evenly with sauce.

Makes 6 to 8 appetizer servings.


Light and Zesty Quinoa Salad

Ingredients

1 cup quinoa
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup Kikkoman® Rice Vinegar
2 lemons
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
½ tablespoon sugar
4 cups baby spinach, chopped
¼ red onion, finely diced
½ cucumber, diced
1 red or orange bell pepper, diced
1 avocado, sliced into cubes
¼ cup pomegranate seeds (I didn't use these since they weren't available)

Instructions

Cook quinoa per package directions and place into the fridge to cool completely.

Meanwhile, whisk together olive oil, rice vinegar, the juice from two lemons plus the zest from one, salt, pepper, and sugar.

When quinoa is cool, assemble the salad by tossing the quinoa, spinach, onion, cucumber, peppers, avocado, and pomegranate seeds with the dressing.

Makes 4 servings



Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chinese Soup

Ingredients

8 cups (2 quarts) chicken broth
1/4 cup Kikkoman Soy Sauce
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/2 cup canned bamboo shoots, thinly sliced
8 oz mushrooms, sliced 1-inch piece
fresh ginger, grated
1 tablespoon Kikkoman Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce
1 teaspoon white pepper
1 teaspoon sugar
1 square firm tofu, cubed
1/4 cup freshly chopped cilantro
1/4 cup sliced green onions

Instructions

Pour chicken broth into a 5 to 8 quart slow cooker. Stir in soy sauce, rice vinegar, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, ginger, sriracha, white pepper, sugar and tofu.

Cook on low 6 to 8 hours, or high 3-4 hours. Serve garnished with cilantro and green onions. 

Makes 6-8 servings

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

We also made a beef stir fry that didn't have a recipe. It was one we made up ourselves.

Beef and Vegetable Stir Fry

Ingredients

1 pound beef sirloin steak, cut into strips

1 head broccoli, cut into bite-sized pieces

1 cup fresh mushrooms, cut into bite-sized pieces

4 carrots, peeled and sliced

1/4 cup canned bamboo shoots, thinly sliced

1 onion, chopped

1/2 cup Kikkoman Stiry-Fry Sauce

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon Kikkoman Soy Sauce

Olive oil

White rice, cooked according to package directions

Instructions

Mix together the cornstarch and soy sauce. Add the sirloin steak and let sit for 5 minutes.

Chop and prepare vegetables as noted above.

Heat some olive oil in a wok. When hot, add the beef sirloin steak and cook until browned. Remove from wok.

 

Add a little more olive oil in the wok. When hot, add the onions, broccoli, mushrooms, carrots, and bamboo shoots. Cook until crisp-tender.

Add the stir-fry sauce and meat; and cook longer until vegetables are at desired doneness.

Serve by itself or with rice.