That Recipe

Ok, I didn't get to make this wonderful soup last night...my boys gave a big Thumbs down to it..so we had potato soup instead and cornbread. I really had my heart set on this. Oh well. Another day.
This recipe comes from a favorite cookbook that I received as a wedding gift 14+ years ago and it still is in the top 3 of my favorites! Everything in it is wonderful and easy to make. It's a local cookbook(nearby town) with many tried and true recipes. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do!

Wisconsin Cheese Soup

1/2 cup margarine(i use butter)
1/4 cup onion, finely diced
1/2 cup celery, finely diced
1 cup carrots, finely diced
1 1/2 cups potatoes, finely diced
1/2 cup flour
4 Tbsp. cornstarch
4 cups chicken stock or 4 cups water with 4 chicken bouillon cubes
4 cups milk
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 cups Velveeta or 8 oz cheese whiz(you can't beat velveeta in my house!)
salt & pepper to taste
2 Tbsp parsley(optional)
Croutons(optional)

Melt butter, add vegetables and saute until tender. Add flour and cornstarch; cook until bubbly. Add chicken stock and milk to make sauce. Add baking soda, cheese, salt, pepper and parsley. Heat on low until cheese melts. Garnish with croutons.

Note: When I added my flour and cornstarch, it didn't get bubbly...it was more like a really thick roux. I recommend low heat and stirring constantly...as it WILL scorch! I made a loaf of bread instead of croutons..any of it sounds good!

Well, my DH made it home. I got much accomplished this weekend. I even scrapbooked about 16 pages! Loved being home...dreading how far behind I'll be at work. Probably go in tomorrow for awhile and get a few things done.

The Uck-N-Pucky

Say that 10 times real fast...call it a tongue-twister! That's what my boys must have...icky tummys, headache and just feeling blah. ZB was home yesterday and they are both home today. We're not a "throw-up" kind of family and for that I am grateful. Only one incident, last night...no we just sit around with bad bellies and fight it!!! Not sure which is worse!? Sickness with ZB always has a tendency to present challenges with his diabetes. You can hardly give anything OTC(over the counter) without checking with a dr. and he has the tendency to have high blood sugars when he's sick--even when he hasn't ate anything. Hasn't been too bad but as I started to give him a Pepto-Bismol tab, I saw that I shouldn't be giving him this med without checking...it didn't do much for him anyway so....

Anyway, even with puny boys, I've gotten quite a lot accomplished at home and that makes me GLAD! Yesterday, I got a lot of laundry done, cleaned my bathroom good and tore into the bedroom. Got crazy and moved all the furniture, cleaned, moved again, cleaned, dusted, cleaned, wiped off, moved out and cleaned. Took me several hours and a lot of grunting and groaning as I was on my own, but I'm happy with the finished look! Nice and clean and re-arranged. I even got into my dresser and sorted, re-organized and took out 2 sacks of clothes to pass on to someone else who can use them. Have you noticed the pattern? I have such a whirlwind going in my brain, I start a little something and it gets big quick! Lord help me.

Today I've spent my morning making jello, toast, ironing and I'm about to get all JB's shirts done---that are clean. Laundry is officially caught up, need to tackle the kitchen floor before something on it tackles us! I'm still planning to scrapbook tonite. Maybe even sooner if I get my business done and the boys aren't any worse than they are now, laying around, dozing, watching the tube. JB's gone to a meeting...the boys and I are on chore duty...hopefully they will be better in the a.m.---I have about 250 head of hungry ladies that will be waiting on me for breakfast in the a.m.

It's getting very cold here again. Low of 18 tonite...YUK. Have I mentioned I am SICK TO DEATH of winter? Well, if not, now you know. Anyway, I took some soup to some friends from church earlier in the week, I think I'll make it tonite for us, well for me. It's a cheese soup, I always have everything on hand that it calls for and it's delish...especially when you serve it with a nice loaf of homemade bread! I'll try to get that posted later. The wind is blowing hard and it's already cold so that sounds like that will hit the spot!

Since I've been home, I've watched some tv...something I don't do much of. I flipped over to CMT, just to see what videos are on...lovin them all right now, must be oldies day, something, lots of older songs that I just LOVE! Makes me think back to when my mom and I and 4 others had a little country band several yrs back. Miss the singing. But I can sing right here in my downstairs while I'm ironing! Lovin the food channel too, man I think I'm gaining weight just watching it....

Have a blessed Friday.
God is so Good, don't forget to thank him!

Want to join me?

Yep, pull up a chair, sit down, have a bowl of Crow...I'm having some, doesn't taste too good, but after awhile, you get used to the taste!!! I agreed to something I always said I would NOT do as a mother. Yep, I'm not going to win the mother of the year award after all.

We bought our boys.....I can hardly say it.......a Trampoline! CB got it for his bday. A friend of a friend had one for sale, their girls didn't use it anymore. It was cheap and we caved....best $50 we've ever spent! Oh my gosh, the fun that has been had already is undescribable. CB was sooooo excited. JB, my dad, my sis and myself all tackled the project together...after about---well I don't know how long, we got it together and CB and my nephew, Rance jumped and jumped and jumped and..well, you get the picture! My boys haven't slept this hard since school started!! I actually couldn't wait to get on it and try it out myself. Oh my gosh, it's soooo much fun! My neighbor was getting a kick out of it too! She asked me if it was for me or the boys?!?!

The weather has been great for jumping on it...today won't be so great. But they have gotten $50 worth of good out of it already...and we've had it 4 days....

Have a blessed week!

9 yrs ago...

The above pics were some I had to scan in. Didn't have a digital camera then!

Its unbelievable to me...but my Baby is going to be 9 yrs old on Saturday. Where did the time go? Just like his big brother, he came 3 weeks early. Instead of being a February baby, he chose January---Martin Luther King day to be exact. It was a Monday morning at 9:07---I remember it like yesterday. I had been in labor all night long, my water broke in bed! I learned from the first baby that I didn't want to go to the hospital too early--I didn't want to just lay in that bed. Well, little did I know things had really changed in the OB dept since my first was born...only 2 1/2 yrs earlier. But, I chose to stay home, wander around the house all night, timing my contractions! I rested a little, but it was intermittent. ZB was just little and JB was sawing logs...like usual! Finally around 6 I took a shower and told JB to get his and we better think about getting to the hospital...my contractions were about 3 mins apart. We don't live far from the hospital. So I wasn't too concerned....but my oh my that was an awful ride for as short as it was. Holy Cow!

It was probably 7:30 when we got to the hospital...there was only 1 OB nurse as they had been really slow up there...things were moving right along for me...contractions were coming quite steady---I was in a Birthing Suite...wow, no changing rooms, beds, etc so different from ZB! JB Thought he was going to sit down and drink coffee, watch tv, etc.---the nurse was not around as another lady came in right after me...active labor. I told JB to get the nurse...I was pretty sure I was getting close. He proceeds to tell me, "Dear, we just got here, I don't think so." I am in no mood to argue, but I reminded him I had been laboring all night long and I was pretty sure I knew what I was doing...and I was about to throw up! That got him moving...he remembered ZB being born, for whatever reason, shortly before I deliver(transition I think they called it) I throw up. Nice Huh? Yea. He runs out the door, gets the nurse who Bless her heart has her hands totally full at this point. She grabs the trash can, I do my business and I tell her she better check me, yep, sure enough the game is on! Where is the Dr you say? Well, probably home having coffee! Here comes JB's dad, as JB had told him we were at the hospital. JB had several things going that a.m. Several appts to go look at cattle, he's trying to call people, reschedule, tell his dad all the while I'm about to have this baby! F-i-l sees that action is about to begin and he shags out! Dr Brown comes in(loved him!) and we get us another beautiful baby boy! There is absolutely no feeling like it...many times I wish I had had another. WONDERFUL MIRACLE! All is well, they get CB wrapped up and kind of cleaned up. Hand him to me...the nurse is still got another OB down the hall about to deliver and she's calling the ER for another nurse to float up and help. CB didn't get a diaper or a bath till that afternoon! It was busy around there!

There is never a dull moment with CB...he has a big personality and a huge and sometimes wild imagination that we love and laugh about! Bless his heart...he is his Mother. I love you CB! Happy Birthday.

It's A Great Day to be Alive!

Helping Dad fill the buckets

I just love that song...Travis Tritt, who is one of my favorites. It is a great day, was a great day, etc. One thing about the Sunflower State, you NEVER know what to expect with the weather. I was born and raised here and still am baffled at the weather changes. Friday, I was without a jacket and it was windy but not too bad. By Friday night around 630 pm a cold front blew in and brought 40-50 mph winds....dropped the temp to the teens with a wind chill of about -6....ICK. I almost feel guilty complaining of that when poor FarmChick is freezing her feathers off with -25 or -30 degrees, excluding the wind chill....

INSIDE the pickup!

A few of the ladies having brunch

My muddy boots......

any way, oh yea, so Sat a.m., I decide to get up early and make my guys a nice big breakfast before we go and do chores. With that accomplished, we head out bundled up like we work for NASA....I've misplaced my scarf somewhere(don't like my neck cold!) in the midst of the clearing out of the laundry room/painting project/re-organizing ordeal....so, off to find my new gloves I bought...my chore gloves were shot--can't find the new ones either. Thank goodness for my little guy...he finally found them and of course the camera.

ZB and Dad looking for ideal target

Just Because I like this one...

This turned out very cool in black and white...and if I were totally computer saavy, I could show you but instead you will have to use your imagination!

Today, we head to my folks so the boys can shoot...sweatshirt weather! Crazy huh? We spent most of the afternoon at one of PaPa's ponds shooting sticks on the ice and watching it melt! I totally enjoyed watching the boys, soaking up the sunshine, taking pictures and wishing winter AWAY--that sounds terrible I know...I'm not wishing time away, just the weather!

Some of PaPa's cattle were not too thrilled that we were target shooting but couldn't stand to not know what was going on...this little guy was so cute...nothing sweeter than a baby calf.

I loved how ZB looked in his Blue vest beneath that beautiful blue sky!

Wanna play I SPY?!?!?!?!?

I spy a bander with a band on (just in case), a red grease rag, ear muffs, binoculars, a county directory, a farm sale bill and sunglasses. PaPa's pickup seat!

Have a blessed week....remember...It's a Great Day to be Alive!

p.s. I am pretty sure once I click post...none of the captions are going to line up...just roll with it!

The Post

Well, I've been thinking I would post something new, but it's been so busy and I haven't felt overly creative to post anything. This week has been somewhat of a whirlwind for us, first week back to school, found out Monday that one of ZB's wrestling coaches had been shot to death on Sunday a.m., ZB's blood sugars have been running high, had a big sale on Wednesday, around 2000 cattle and now it's Friday. WOW. I'm tired and my eyes hurt. Today was the funeral for ZB's coach, Kiyon Koroma, age 31 http://www.winfieldcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=3&SubSectionID=3&ArticleID=28106&TM=75216.75.
ZB and I went--I'm glad as it was a wonderful tribute to a very neat man who lived life to the fullest and was a wonderful mentor to many young boys in our area as he coached soccer and wrestling. And the Pastor gave a wonderful, encouraging message to all who might be in question of what they need to believe--how they need to go about accepting Jesus and how we will ALL give an account for our lives on judgement day. And in the same breath, it was so very sad---such a senseless act--he was murdered. I have been very distracted with this all week. I'm feeling at peace about his death now and am glad that we went--but I must say, I'm exhausted. I can't imagine how his family and close friends must feel. On the flip side of the coin...he's where we're all striving to be, enjoying a new body with a new life and knowing no pain like we know here in this mean, cruel life. Praise God we have so much to look forward to, we must keep the faith and press on!

I don't even have any knew pics to post. How pitiful am I? Tomorrow...maybe I'll get some, if the 40-50 mph wind doesn't blow my camera away. Yep, the wind and cold front has moved into our territory as of around 530pm today. Have I ever told you how much I dislike the wind? I could say a lot of things about it...but I won't!

I finally got my Christmas tree down tonite and all the other stuff put away. That was a relief. It has really been bothering me but I just couldn't get to it. Too many other things going on every night this week. It looks kind of bare now, but I'm ok with that!

WARNING! SOAPBOX AHEAD

I'm so tired of watching all this crap about our economy I could just scream. When are we going to figure out that GOD ALMIGHTY is our PROVIDER. No matter what goes on in the physical economy---we are free in God's economy!!!!!! I've been watching Kenneth Copeland this week and it's been GREAT! His guest is Leroy Thompson...I highly recommend it!!!
Here, I'll even give you a link! http://www.kcm.org/index.php?p=home Give it a listen, you won't be disappointed!

I'm going to wash off what little makeup I have left on my splotched, red-eyed face and get some eye drops. Have a wonderful weekend and Give thanks to the Lord, His Love DOES Endure Forever!

Yes or No

So, I forgot to ask this in my post last night. Does anyone else do black eyed peas for New Years Day? I grew up with that tradition, going to my Grandma's having black eyed peas, cornbread and fried potatoes. Ummmm Ummmm GOOD! I love them and fix them often. My guys are not too crazy about them, I could eat them every day. My husband never heard of such thing, I couldn't believe EVERYONE didn't do my tradition!!! Nothing better than a nice bowl of peas and watching the Rose Bowl parade..another thing my boys really dislike! Oh well.
Just curious what other traditions are, or if my State Line upbringing was the only one that involved Black Eyed Peas!!!