I am a Political Animal

I love election day!! My family and friends all know that presidential elections are like a drug to me. They know not to call me unless it is about the election and that I will be up all night if need be watching the returns.
It all started in college. I became a political science major and it has been in my blood ever since. If I had not had the privilege of being a wife and mother, I would have loved to live and die for a campaign and work tirelessly on one every four years. When I went to work for the Federal Government, the Hatch Act prohibited us from doing much of anything bipartisan, so I have been happily an observer.
It is discussion at the table every night of the year. My kids know all the issues and politicians from a very early age.
Would you have guessed this about me? It is true and I love this country and for the few short hours before returns come in, we all have the excitement of Christmas as we wait hoping our candidate wins. I have been known to even dress in black the day after when the outcome is not what I had hoped.
So celebrate with me, as an American, on this most wonderful of days in the United States. God Bless America!!

Monday Monday

The house has been de-Halloweened. We brought out our Thanksgiving decor and I really love this season more and more. A time for our family to focus on thankfulness which I believe is the key to happiness. 

I will have to share all the changes that were made when I mentioned I wanted to move a couch to the lineman. He is a sick man. He wears me out. He started moving things all over. I just don't have the energy he does. Sure wish I did.

I am trying to prepare more healthy options for lunches. Made a big batch of black bean salad as a healthy salad for all the lunch boxes I prepare daily. It is so pretty. You can find the recipe on the salad section of my recipe page.

I am sharing with Tweak It Tuesday,  Tabletop Tuesday and A Return to Loveliness

Sunny Simple Sunday

Well we spent all of Saturday without electricity due to upgrades on the power lines in our city. So a quiet day around here. We did have our generator running so the kids watched TV and I de-Halloweened the house. Now for Thanksgiving. What did you all do this weekend? I hope you all are well my friends.
Now to spotlight a few blogs from last week:

Fabby's Living

Rosemary and Thyme

Must Love Junk

Now let's see what you have been up to. Have a wonderful Sunday.

Chicken Chores

I really enjoy caring for my two hens. They are so funny and come running whenever they are out to see if I have any treats but a typical day starts with me letting them out for some free roaming every morning. They get so excited and one of them jumps up and down. It cracks me up.

Next to the coop I keep a big can of all their supplies. With just two it doesn't take much. Food lasts a long time. I give them all the heels of the bread and old apples. They adore them.

My local produce store sells lots of bulk grains so I add some goodies to their feed. Usually flax, millet and sunflower seeds with some calcium.

But these girls all time favorite treat is raw sunflower seeds. I buy them in bulk and they get them every night when I put them in for the evening.

This gives them a nice extra boost of protein. You can see how much they love their treats. They thank me with eggs though so a nice trade off. With the shorter days I am down to an egg a day, sometimes two. I have read they will stop laying when the days really shorten. Guess they will be ladies of luxury then.

Linking to:
A Favorite Thing Saturday

80s Themed Halloween Party

I wanted to share pics of my sister in law's awesome 80s themed Halloween party. She always spends days decorating and this year she did not disappoint. This is a fountain on their patio. 80s album covers were part  of the decor.

So here is our $6 costumes. We found a mask at the 99 cents store. I said hey when did that movie come out, Friday the 13th? 1980. Yes, let's do something with that. So he wore a jumpsuit from work and I bought a $5 fake hatchet and went as his 1980s victim. I kept running into things with the handle.

A 1980s candy bar. All the goodies we loved as kids and teens.

She added the neon bright colors of the 80s to the decor. I thought it was perfect.

My oldest and her date.

Here is our hostess with her oldest son, dressed as Slash.

And one closing shot of my littlest trick or treater last night.

Linking to:
BNOTP
Home Sweet Home

Just Mom

This week has been one of the busiest so far this year. Take two teenagers home sick with fever and horrible cold, a party you are planning for a four year old preschool class and an annual Halloween dinner for family with trick or treating on the 31st and you only have time for one job. I had no time to be a blogger, gardener or even turn on the computer. I had to buckle down and bring sick kids home and get games and food together for the preschool.

The party went well, as my four year old said, "That was the best Halloween party ever!" Not that she has been to that many in her life but I will take that compliment. As I was washing dishes thinking of those affected on the east coast I reminded myself of how we need to be thankful for the ordinary days of runny noses, Kleenex boxes, rice krispy treats and over excited four year olds on too much sugar. These are good times of wrapping my arms around my kids under my roof that is solid and fine and I will enjoy the fun of the week and dote on my sickies because I can.

Really nothing else matters right? So I took the last few days to focus on the family and the basics and it felt good to hunker down and do what moms do best. I will have to post some pictures of my SIL's Halloween party from last weekend. I have not had that much fun in years. It was 80s themed and I was a teen in the 80s and all the great music just was a blast. We danced for hours and are still paying for it but it was just the best. I think I smiled and laughed all night just hearing great songs that took me back. That or I really needed  a night off to let loose. It was awesome. She did a great job.

So the bowl is ready full of candy, I will be cleaning and cooking for our guests that will arrive tomorrow night around five and be prayerful for those that are suffering because of that giant storm. Are still suffering for that matter. I will keep you in my prayers and on my mind. Just amazing how life can change in one day like that. Take care my friends.

Sunny Simple Sunday

It's the weekend. Anyone heading to a Halloween party? We will be tonight. My contribution: rice krispy treats and pasta salad. Fun! Pray I don't eat too much candy corn. I cannot afford the calories.

This week I am sending you on over to the four most visited blogs from last week. It always fascinates me to see what folks were drawn to. Head over for a visit after you link up.

Call Her Blessed

Make Do & Mend

Decorating Tennis Girl

Chenille Cottage

Homemade Fruit and Vegetable Wash

I wanted to share how I wash my fruits and veggies. I wish that I lived on a farm and could grow everything we needed but I must buy a great deal and it has always bothered me what may be lurking on our fruits and veggies. I have no idea frankly how much this removes but I love cleaning the produce this way and when you see the water afterwards it seems to be working pretty well.

First, when I come home from the produce store I wash all the fruits and veggies right away. I take a giant bowl and fill with cold water and one cup of white distilled vinegar. I then submerge as much as I can and let soak for 30 minutes.

If you can see the water it is nice and clear here.

As I remove the first batch I rinse really well with clean water and let dry for a bit on the counter before storing.

I go ahead and add the second batch of produce to the existing water and vinegar and repeat the soaking and rinsing.

See that water. It is now cloudy and you will see little bugs floating in there too with lots of silt and dirt on the bottom of the bowl. Nothing tastes like vinegar and we can just grab the fruit and eat without washing once I am done with this quick process.

Linking to:
Sat. Night Special
Scraps of Life

Friday

I am popping in quick as I am not sure how much time or energy I will have later on today. I have a hundred and one things to do today and being sick has put me behind. I am off for a big grocery shop. It is seriously bare cupboards time around here. We have my Sister In Law's big Halloween party tomorrow night. I will show you some pics afterwards. She changes things up every year. She is a wonder.

It is eighties themed but you will laugh when you see my costume and hubbies. This is the lowest I have spent on a costume yet. $4 to finish it off. 

At last year's party we were Star Trekkies. Hubby's idea. Here is showing how he really felt about me.

Wait till you see how he feels about me this year. I am sensing a disturbing theme. Just kidding. You know he  can't live without me or he would have run away a long time ago.

In regards to yesterday's post, you all make me want to hug you. Thanks for such kind words, I was not trying to elicit such sweet comments but you all are just too kind. Thanks!! I see how I am plucking along may be just how it should be. I will continue to share my money saving strategies with a mix of life thrown in.

It looks to be a whirlwind weekend of cooking, party fun and then up early to work with the two year olds in the nursery at church on Sunday. If I think too hard about it all my head hurts. Okay, off and running.

A Question For You All

I have a favor to ask from you. I have been thinking about the blog and the direction I want to go with it. I love the fun stuff and the visits with the chickens and garden but I would love to know what you really like reading about from me the most. Not as if I am any expert, but I love to write on topics that I find helpful or that I am concerned about. I have noticed that I get large responses on my posts regarding frugality and money saving. Part of me wants to focus more on this for my own good as well. With more detailed topics and regular posts. Is this what folks are wanting to read about? Or are they looking for an escape?

I of course will keep the fun stuff but would love your input on what blog readers are looking for if you care to share. It really fascinates me as I know what I am interested in but your input is so valuable.

Thanks for all the well wishes. After a scalding bath and hot tea, I finally got to bed. I am feeling so much better today. Still coughing but feel my energy back which I really need around here.

Thanks so much for taking time to read and comment. You all are the best!!

Creeping Crud

This picture says it all. The creeping crud has hit our house hard. I have been nursing a sick little one and my poor hubby who is now luckily getting over it. Fever and the worst cold I have seen in years. Keep your hands washed as this is a doozy. Sadly, I am now coming down with it and I have not been sick in years but this one I could not seem to avoid. I am going to take my own advice to ease cold symptoms and head to bed. I hope my big girls don't get it but that seems likely given how bad this is. See you on the other side.

Fall Harvest

This year I am determined to be harvesting something from the garden all year long. We rarely ever get a freeze where I live so winters are mild. Our long hot summer kept the garden quiet but at the end of august I planted more seeds to see what would give me a late harvest.

Basil and cucumbers have taken off. I have been picking a few cucumbers per week this month.

I planted some fall crops. Mostly greens and lettuces.

Half the garden is now planted with new seedlings and the other half is left with more mature plants still producing.

Bell peppers seem to finally take off in the fall here.

We love cukes here and even eat them in sandiches. You can see how we enjoy them here.

First year I grew celery and it has taken a while to mature but now I can snip off stalks as I need them.
Those are also the green onions I grew from market cuttings. Worked great. Snipped as needed and haven't bought any all summer.

Linking to:
The Charm of Home

Basic Recipe for Creamy Veggie Dip

If you love the hot baked artichoke dip recipe you will like this one too but you can use whatever you have to whip this up spur of the moment.

Creamy Veggie Dip
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese( You can read  in this post how I freeze shredded cheese)
1/2 regular or light sour cream
4 oz. of light cream cheese softened at room temperature
1/2 grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/4 finely diced red onion or chives
Few dashes of Tabasco sauce
Here is where you can mix it up.
For traditional artichoke dip use 14 oz. can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped and one cup of  fresh spinach leaves or frozen well drained.
If you have other veggies from the garden or you need to use some up then mix things up:
I sometimes use some chopped artichokes, finely diced zucchini or squash, chopped chives, mushrooms, canned water chestnuts chopped, corn. The possibilities are endless. As long as the veggie mixture equals two full cups. Artichokes can be spendy so this gives you the flavor but it is stretched with the addition of the other veggies.
  Mix the first seven ingredients well and then stir in the chopped veggie mixture. Bake uncovered at 350 for about 15 minutes or you see the edges bubbling. Serve with crackers, bits of french bread, pita chips. It is good cold the next day too on a bagel. Yum!

Linking to:
Met Monday
Pinned It Made It Monday
Tweak It Tuesday
A Favorite Thing

Sunny Simple Sunday

Hello! I am putting the party up a little early this week as we are having our power lines upgraded and have been without power at times and will be without electricity all day tomorrow so just in case it spreads to Sunday I am starting the party a little early. I will do features during the week. 

I thought I would share a little Happy Halloween shelf from our home.

If I don't get back on for the weekend, have a good one! Yeah for weekends.
Go ahead and and link up friends.

More of Shelly's Place

Doesn't Shelly have some awesome collections? Look at that clock!

I think I may copy cat that polka dot trim on the shelves.

A cozy corner. Those veggies in a bowl are all glass.

Even her outdoor patio is decorated for the seasons.

So cute! Thanks Shelly for another nice time in your darling home.

Linking to:
Home Sweet Home
Farm Girl Blog Fest
Mockingbird Hill

Frugal Challenge Update, Is This the New Normal?

How to write this post without offending anyone? Hmm. These are just my thoughts this week as a middle class mom trying to make ends meet. First off, it is not lost on me how lucky we are, so don't think I am whining because my thoughts do not stem from that but from my day to day life doing what we all are doing, trying to stretch an even thinner dollar even farther.

Everything that you need to buy is skyrocketing and it seems no one is going to do anything about it. Here in our state gas is so high that you really have to think before you drive anywhere. Now the last time gas spiked like this guess what spiked next? Food, yes already sky high food prices are bound to climb again. If it costs more to ship food the higher prices will be sure to follow.

When fuel prices adjust do the food prices and all the other goods we need go down? No they don't. So I ask is this the new normal? There is no way wages will keep up with these rising costs. Living on less has become the norm for a lot of us and I do live a life where we have enough to eat and a nice roof over our head and I know some do not. I know personally others who do not have that because of job loss and other reasons.

But I want hope in the future for my kids. I see graduates who cannot get jobs everywhere I look. How does  someone graduate top of class and find it hard to get a job? I know keeping at it is important and hopefully jobs will be found, but this is not what it looked like for me when I graduated from college. It is not what it looked like even a few short years ago.

We are facing a point I fear in our country where we may not turn these things around. I will not get political on here as that is not my format but I will say it how it is for me and for my family as we see it and live it every day. No matter who wins this next election, I ask again is this the new normal? After a while I fear we will forget more of how it was and accept a new lower standard of the American Dream. 

A Visit to Shelly's

Friday night I was invited to a girl's night out at Shelly's house with. Always so much fun because not only is she the sweetest but her place is the cutest thing ever. There is so much to look at. It was evening so not the best for taking shots. But I know you will love another look at her place. Her kitchen is a red and white dream.

As you walk up there are things stashed here and there. This pink bicycle was tucked along the fence.

Every holiday she decorates outside her door.

So cute. Hey I love those wooden chickens.

Her living room in red and white but she had one area all in Halloween colors of orange and black and her signature polka dots.

This hutch, a Goodwill find, changes with the holidays as well. It is so fun to see all that she tucks in there.

I think she has such a way with display. And no she does not have a blog. Patty from Lemon Lane Cottage is her sister in law and could help her so easily. See those boo canisters? Just adorable.

I will share the last of my pics tomorrow.

Linking to:

Met Monday

Pinned It Made It Monday

Tabletop Tuesday

Tweak It Tuesday