New Recipes Tried

We have been trying to mix things up lately.  We tend to eat the same things over and I'm trying to change that.  Tonight we ate from a recipe on the internet: American Goulash from Gonna Want Seconds.  It's what I remember from my childhood and reminds me of my Grandparents.

American Goulash

By Kathleen November 26, 2012

• Prep Time :20 Minutes minutes
• Cook Time :1 Hour minutes
• Rating 4.11 stars - based on 9 review(s)
• Yield : Serves 6

Ingredients

• Ground Beef, 80/20 - 2 Pounds
• Large Yellow Onion - 1
• Large Cloves Garlic, Minced - 4
• Water - 3 Cups
• Canned Tomato Sauce - 2 (15 Ounce)
• Canned Diced Tomatoes - 2 (14.5 Ounce)
• Soy Sauce - 3 Tablespoons
• Dried Oregano - 2 Tablespoons
• Dried Basil - 2 Teaspoons
• Dried Bay Leaves - 2
• Seasoned Salt - 1 Tablespoon
• Black Pepper - 1/2 Teaspoon
• Elbow Macaroni, Uncooked - 2 Cups

Instructions

1. In a large Dutch oven, cook the meat over medium heat, breaking up the meat as it cooks into small pieces. Cook until the meat is cooked through and there's no longer any pink. Stir in the onions and garlic. Cook and stir the mixture until the onions are translucent.
2. Stir in water, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, soy sauce, oregano, basil, bay leaves, seasoned salt, and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Stir in the pasta, cover, and simmer over low heat until the pasta is tender, about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, discard bay leaves, and refrigerate, if possible, overnight. If you must, you could serve. :)

This weekend I have also been busy baking.  We will all be home and snacking so we needed cookies. 

I''ll post those later.  Only 2 more days of work!

Apple Betty and other finishes

I didn't post last week because I kept thinking I would have to finish something.  I didn't.  It ok because this week I have.  I finished a book, Wreckage by Emily Bleeker.  I loved the book and would highly recommend it.  Its one of those books you can't wait to pick up and hate to put down.  One of those told from different perspectives but in the end you see the whole picture.

I finished a cross stitch,  Dimensions Hope Snow Globe Ornament.  Really quick sew and super cute. Has to be one of my favorites.

 

 

So I was informed yesterday that today was National Do Something Nice.  What???  It's a made up day but the feeling is right.  I couldn't believe the day so I did some research and found National Day Calendar.  It turns out today, Oct 5 is also National Apple Betty Day.  I have never had this dessert so I stopped by the store and picked up apples.  This is a wonderful dessert.  So tasty!  The soft apples and the crunchy top is only made better by putting whipped topping on it.

 

Those are my 3 finishes.  I'm happy with what I have completed.

Random Finishes

I had the most relaxing weekend.  Translate that statement to I didn't do much.  Oh well.

Friday - I have been labeled as the weirdest mom ever.  Right after work on Friday I got a box from the garage storage of Thing 2's school work.  Yes, I kept every paper they brought home and put them in a box.  Out of that box, 90% went to the trash, 9% scanned and only1 % was kept.  Thing 2 kept asking me "Why did you keep this?"  Only about 20 boxes more to go!

Saturday - The house was painted a year ago.  They took the downspouts off to paint and put them back up when they were done.  They told me then to go buy a fastener and they would put it on.  I did not.  One year later, the downspout is once again attached to the house.  Yeah for me!

Sunday - Fall Yard Prep continues.  I cleaned the area between the garage and fence.  Where all things I did not want to deal with go.  Most of it went to the trash.  Parts are being ordered for the grill, fence is another project, winter tires for truck.  I loaded the cement edgers to a cart and put on craiglist.  The last piece of fencing was put up.  It only took 3 years.

What a great weekend!

Happy Rosh Hashanah!

I have discovered over my many years that short weeks are the longest.  This week only proved I was correct.  I'm fighting with Thing 2's doctor, he broke his glasses, eye exam, order new glasses, go to work. get Dallas groomed and clean house.  Only do all of this in less days.

I only have one finish for this week and I'm sorry to say it is not any thing I made.  I finished a book, Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum.  I wasn't sure about the book at first but in the end I liked it.  I thought it would be about the Holocaust, saving Jews and surviving while doing this but it wasn't.  It was about the Germans during the war and how they survived and how they tried to help.  While this is a novel and I do not know if it is historically accurate I guess I have never looked at that side.  Very interesting book.  What would you be willing to do to survive?

This week is starting to look very busy but this year more than in the past I'm looking forward to the Days of Awe, Reflection and Atonement.  I'm ready for the new year.   I'm hoping 5776 is much better than the past year, easier and more productive.
 

End of Summer

I love Labor Day Weekend!  The unofficial end of summer!  I hate summer!  I hate the heat!  I hate paying for the air conditioner!  Usually by now everything is dead from the heat but this year we have had record breaking rain in Kansas and everything is still green.  It hasn't been a horrible year for the heat.  It's got over 100 many times, including Saturday, but it's been ok.  By next weekend it's forecasted to be in the 70s-80s.  And with any luck  we are done with the 90s.

Labor Day is my official weekend to start getting the yard ready for winter.  It seems every year that there is so much to do.  I have started again this year.  The front yard is done.  I would like to put a couple bags of dirt near the house but over all it done.  As I'm looking at the pictures I see several things I want to do but overall it's ready.



We still have green grass



No more weeds

 My other finish was framing finished cross stitch.  I had to paint 4 of the frames.  You would think this would not be a big finish but I have had some of these sitting around for years.  I didn't even frame everything but I did frame 6!

Took 2 years but finished for this year

My 6 framed cross stitch

The other thing I worked on was one of my started quilts.  This if from the October 2011 magazine I have on my side bar.  I didn't finish but I made progress.  I would like to finish everything started before starting anything new.  I have had this plan for awhile but I keep starting new quilts and cross stitch.

This was my inspiration

Blocks I made

 All in all it's been a great weekend.  This is one of my little helpers, Charlie.  He has been in the middle of everything we  have done this weekend.  He even rode along to the drive through at McDonalds.  I was trying to take pictures of the frames and blocks and had to keep chasing him off.  He wants to be in the middle of the action all of the time.

Charlie

I pulled one out after all

I was so worried about not having a finish that I have worked about 4 hours on the t-shirt quilt.  I have the top together.  I'm thinking about sending this one to a longarm quilter to finish.  It's a present for my son.  I'm so happy I have a finish and a present will be finished on time.

Oops!

I didn't finish anything this week!  All week long I was thinking about it and trying to remember if there was anything I could finish but I couldn't think of anything. 

This week was hot, work was very busy, and I was tired.  I made it to bed on time.  The house is in good shape.  I read every night.  Just not one thing.

I got the doctor's appointment for Thing 2 that I had been working on for 4 days.  I picked up his prescription.  I talked to the pharmacist.  The t-shirt quilt I'm working on is ready to sew, I finished cutting the blocks last weekend and got the layout today.  Thing 2 came into the living room and I slipped them behind me and worked on something else.  He didn't even notice.

Next weekend is Labor Day and we get an extra day on Tuesday.  Maybe, just maybe, I will accomplish something then.

Only a little penguin

This has been such a busy week!  The first day of school was Tuesday, and that means my work load increased this week.  Everyone is busy and wants it now.  So it was hard to get a finish in this week.  I started a book but kept falling asleep.  Today I finished my small cross stitch penguin.  I still need to finish but he is done.  I am thinking about a pillow.

Hopefully I won't be as tired next week!

I'm back with a finish

I'm ready to start over!  I want to finish things!  I want to get rid of things!  I don't need things or unfinished projects sitting around.  I'm feeling renewed after the heat and death of summer.  I am ready to start.  I wanted to wait until the Jewish New Year but I need to start now.  This feeling could leave if I wait too long.

This week my big finish is I read a book.  My youngest son, Thing 2, was admitted to the hospital on Monday.    He has been suffering with a skin infection for the past couple of months but finally one of the cultures grew a nasty infection so he was admitted.  They looked at it and decided to do nothing but we had to see the infectious disease doctor before he could be dismissed.  So 24 hours later, we finally left the hospital.  I sat and read between nurses and running to get something to eat for Thing 2.  I watched him sleep too.  I was so bored. 

I read the kindle first book for August, The Good Neighbor by A.J. Banner.  It was the perfect book for was I doing.  It kept my interest between interruptions and the day went quicker.  I would recommend this book. 

The rest of the week has flown by.  I have been playing catch up all week.  You would not think that one day could set you that far behind.

Early this summer I went to the farmer's market.  I had a blast and thought and thought about what can I sell.  Extra money and it looked fun.  I decided of course to sell plants.  I bought baby orchids and seeds (from China).  The greenhouse looks great.  My babies are surviving the nasty heat of summer.  I need to plant more seeds so they will be nice size by April when the market opens.

Today, I dropped off a prescription and had about an hour to kill so I went to Lowes.  I bought 2 palms, $5 each.  The palms were a bunch of baby palms put together.  I broke them apart and repotted them.  Now I have 7.  I put them behind a fence off the deck.  I think if they will grow there they will be beautiful.  Also, I can sell them next year.




Early, early this morning Dallas and Charlie and I started weeding the garden.  It's been such a weird summer.  Hot then 3 inches of rain.  I can't keep up with the weeds.  It's either too hot or too wet.  We got a good start this morning. 

I had hoped to quilt this weekend but so far that has not happened.  I'm keeping high hopes.  The weekend is not over yet.

Spring Break - Monday

It's been a month since I have updated and a lot has been going on.  I have become the owner of 2 dogs: Dallas adopted from the Humane Society and Charlie who a friend could not handle.  They have kept me busy!  I sometimes question why I got them but they are adorable.

Monday did not amount to much.  I worked on laundry and going through one box I had moved from Thing 1's room in December.  I'm still not done with that.  But off to start again.  Maybe tomorrow will be more exciting and productive.

2 weeks and more projects. Will it ever end?

2 weeks since moving out of the kitchen and I'm still moving back into the kitchen.  I have filled a tote to send to the dav but I have not found spots for everything.  I have not put handles on the cabinets.  I have not found a spot for the cook books.  I have a new project - to replace a piece of flooring.   Found warped and wet when the new dishwasher was put in.

This is picture of the new dishwasher and the new project.  I still need to replace the counter.  This is a really big project but I had no idea how big.  It is taking for ever and stressing my last nerve.  Now to the to do list:



 1.  Finish Quilt for Kids Quilt - almost done. - Nope

 2.  Dog Coats for Roxie and Archer-  at least 2 each Didn't Happen

 

3.  Cross Stitch Birthday Announcements - 2 or 3 to go.  Then Frame. One is complete.  I need to personalize it.

 

4.  Cross Stitch over one Face No

 

5.  Start refinishing the kitchen cabinets.  Start on prep work and call for estimate. This has taken all of my time.  Lots of time!  I hope to finish this project one day soon.

 

6.  New Book - Open Yale Class, Introduction to the Bible by Christine Hayes No

 

7.  New Book - Miramont's Ghost by Elizabeth Hall, Kindle First Book.  I have changed books.  Now reading The One that Got Away by Simon Wood, Kindle First Book.

 

8.  T-Shirt Quilt - Are you kidding?

 

9.  Frame finished Cross Stitch. I did frame of finished projects.

 

10.  Thing 2's Birthday on Thursday.  About a month ago but it went well.

 

Plan for next week:

 

1.  Finish Quilt for Kids Quilt - This would take 1-2 hours. 

 

 2.  Dog Coats for Roxie and Archer-  at least 2 each

 

3.  Cross Stitch Birthday Announcements - Completed One.  2 more to go.

 

4.  Cross Stitch I'm Hoppin Happy.  Quick little project to finish.

 

4.  Cross Stitch over one Face

 

5.  Kitchen Remodel.  Cook books and counters

 

6.  New Book - Open Yale Class, Introduction to the Bible by Christine Hayes

 

7.  New Book - The One That Got Away by Simon Wood, Kindle First Book.

 

8.  T-Shirt Quilt - Really missing quilting

 

9.  Hamantaschen Quilt Idea

 

 

Looking at this list - 3 quilts, 3 cross stitch, 2 books, 1 sewing project, and a kitchen remodel.  Hopefully more picture soon.

It's been 4 weeks!

I can't believe I have not posted in 4 Weeks!  I have only worked on one item on the to-do list and it's a big one - the kitchen.  We have had one week of sheet rock work.  This came complete with mudding, sanding and best of all - dust!  One full week of painting.  We have painted the hallway, all of the ceilings, kitchen wall, stairway.  We have been packing things away to Thing 1's room.  We the addition of the 2 new pantry cabinets we hope to get another bottom cabinet and upper cabinet.  This week we will start painting the cabinets.  The original plan was white but that might change.  I need to make that decision today.  Fun.  The dishwasher quit and a new one was purchased, it will delivered next Monday.  I'm ready to start looking at countertops.  This has been a crazy dust filled weeks.  I feel like I mop the floor every time I turn around.  I will be so glad when this is done.

Painters on working on stairs

Hallway Completed - walls, trim, and doors

Stairway finished

Trying to pick a cabinet color

Basically a New Wall - Paneling and wall paper removed, mudded

New pantry cabinet

New cabinet

The only craft that happened.  Cross stitch on the birthday pattern

Welcome 2015

My nice long Winter Break of 2014 is over.  I'm so sad.  I had a great time and enjoyed my children being around.  I truly believe you can be a mature adult 51 weeks of the year but when you come home, once again you are a child.  They didn't fight too much. 

What I did do:

1.  Finish Quilt for Kids Quilt - almost done. Did not touch

2.  Dog Coats for Roxie and Archer-  at least 2 each Did not touch

 

3.  Cross Stitch Birthday Announcements - 2 or 3 to go.  Then Frame. Nope

 

4.  Cross Stitch over one Face Yes!  I have been working on this everyday.  Over 1 is killing me!

 

5.  Start refinishing the kitchen cabinets.  Start on prep work and call for estimate. Yes!  I want to fix/replace one cabinet door and work on the corner cabinet.  All of the drawers came out great!  I wish I would have fixed them years ago.  I would like to add a set of cabinet on a bare wall, depending on the price, and an island.  After address these things I will be ready to get an estimate for the painting.

6.  New Book - Open Yale Class, Introduction to the Bible by Christine Hayes Has not happened

 

7.  New Book - The Last Passenger by Manel Loureiro Finished!  I really liked the story.

 

8.  T-Shirt Quilt - This is started.  I cut the t-shirts in half  and then trimmed them again.  I'm just wanting a small lap quilt.  I took a completed quilt and laid the shirts out on that.  Still had shirts so I laid a piece of fabric over that and finished.  I have enough to make a double sided.  I haven't had time to sew anything but this is ready. 

 

9.  Frame finished Cross Stitch. - Have not even thought about.

 

We watched movies and laughed and enjoyed being together as a family.  The to-do list was not the focus for this break.  One more birthday and it's back to normal.

 

To-Do for the first week of 2015:

 

1.  Finish Quilt for Kids Quilt - almost done.

 2.  Dog Coats for Roxie and Archer-  at least 2 each

 

3.  Cross Stitch Birthday Announcements - 2 or 3 to go.  Then Frame.

 

4.  Cross Stitch over one Face

 

5.  Start refinishing the kitchen cabinets.  Start on prep work and call for estimate.

 

6.  New Book - Open Yale Class, Introduction to the Bible by Christine Hayes

 

7.  New Book - Miramont's Ghost by Elizabeth Hall, Kindle First Book.

 

8.  T-Shirt Quilt - Really missing quilt

 

9.  Frame finished Cross Stitch.

 

10.  Thing 2's Birthday on Thursday.

 

It's going to be a long hard week after being off all of this time.  This week I'm just hoping to make it through it.