Menu Plan, Week of May 30

I'm back in town and excited about reposting my menu plans on Mondays. For the last couple of weeks, my husband just had to thaw dinner in the fridge and then reheat it. He's due for some home-cooked meals, assisted by a Better Homes and Gardens casserole magazine I borrowed from my mom. For more great menu plans, visit orgjunkie.com every Monday.

Breakfasts: Cereal, Eggs, Pancakes, Biscuit, Bacon & Egg Freezer Casserole (recipe is coming!)

Lunches are always leftovers.

Dinners
Sunday: Grilled Pork Chops, Salad, Cornbread
Monday: Baked Stuffed French Toast, Apple Slices
Tuesday: Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole, Frozen Green Beans
Wednesday: Hamburgers, Homemade Buns, Corn on the Cob, Deviled Eggs
Thursday: Chicken Puffs, Steamed Broccoli
Friday: Upside Down Pizza Casserole, Salad, Sunchips

Parades

One of the best things about living in a small community is the parade line-up. We may not sport floats as fancy as the Rose Parade, but we bring out the fire engines and antique tractors with gusto. There seems to be a parade for every holiday. Today we'll attend the annual Memorial Day Parade in Corvallis, which begins with paratroopers jumping from a plane and landing on the street. I presume that every fire truck in the county will be there, with sirens blaring. I wish I had skipped the fair parade (below), because the sirens probably did some permanent damage to the baby's eardrums. After that there will be all sorts of entries, including the Humane Society blasting "Who Let the Dogs Out?" on the radio, various political ads (It is election year!), and the high school marching band. This parade usually includes bagpipes, too.

Leading the parade with the American flag is my husband, who participates in the Marine Corps League Color Guard. Other annual parades include the Fair Parade (pictured below with the prize-winning concrete truck dumping candy off its conveyor belt onto unsuspecting sleeping babies [mine!]), the 4th of July Parade, the Halloween Parade, and the Parade of Lights the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Who said there's nothing free? Kids can get belted with candy, parents can enjoy running into everyone they know in town, and the owners of those antique cars can put another mile on the odometer.

Which is your favorite parade? Do you enjoy any parades where you live?

Crabapple Blossoms

We are blessed with a crabapple tree. Our builder saved this tree specifically when he constructed our house. I wish I loved this tree, but I don't like eating crabapples, the fruit attracts deer, and it's a pain to pick up the fruit and leaves in the fall. (I won't even get into the maggot story.)

So, I was intrigued when I saw a to-do list by a Master Gardener in Montana include "Abort crabapples." Aborting anything sounds bad to me, but I checked into it and had my husband purchase a quart of Florel, which is a plant hormone that you spray on blossoms to prevent the fruit from developing. It seemed relatively safe and worth it if we didn't have to deal with the mess of crabapples all year.

It was going well until I had my husband get out there and put it in the sprayer. He didn't feel comfortable using it due to possible environmental hazards. This is the man who will spray Round-up and lived on an almond farm with all kinds of pesticides and herbicides. He didn't want to risk using this. Now he sounded like me and my chemical-free tirades.

So, the Florel went back to the store and the blossoms kept developing.

I arrived home last night to the blossoms. It looked like we were showered with confetti. I do love the blossoms. They remind me of a Japanese Literature course I took in college. The authors commonly used cherry blossom petals to represent the transitory nature of life. Neither I nor the crabapple tree will be here forever, but we can enjoy the time we have together and try to co-exist peacefully.

Bath Salt Recipes for MOPS

I ended up being in charge of the craft during our last MOPS session. Everyone was instructed to bring a glass jar. The one pictured is an old pickle relish jar. The cutest jars came from Wal-Mart. They looked like half-pints or something.

Equipped with bath salt ingredients, measuring cups/spoons, our jars, essential oils, ribbon, and paint markers, the girls made their own bath salts. I wish I had pictures of theirs because mine is not so cute. I will share the recipes here, but I would like to put a disclaimer on the fizzing bath salt one. I tried it out and it fizzed for about 3 seconds before dissipating into the bath. I'm not sure if I needed more or if that's the intended result. Just keep your expectations low.

Martha Stewart's Homemade Bath Salts
Yield: ~ 2 Baths
1 c. Epsom or sea salt
Several drops of essential oil
Dried fragrant plants like lavender or eucalyptus (optional)
Mix ingredients and store tightly. Use about 1/4-1/2 c. per bath.

Simple Herbal Bath Salts
Yield: 2 Baths
1 c. baking soda
1 c. sea or Epsom salt
several drops calendula, lavender, or Roman chamomile essential oil
Store in a dry, airtight container. For best results, use in 6 months.

Fizzing Bath Salts
Yield: 2 Baths
1/3 c. baking soda
1/4 c. citric acid crystals
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
Desired color and essential oil
Work color and/or scent into the cornstarch first. Mix ingredients and place in an airtight container. Keep salts dry! Sprinkle about 1/4 cup (half) of the salts into a warm tub of water.

10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget

Most money-saving books tell you a lot of common sense mixed with a few fresh ideas. I found this collection of information from the writers of Wise Bread a better-than-average money-saving book. Sure, it's common sense to avoid souvenir shops when traveling and to make your own food as much as possible, but I did not know about the large array of organizations that allow professionals to see the world in exchange for a period of work overseas.

My favorite articles were in Health & Beauty. I have been trying to convince my husband to wash his work pants less frequently (if they're not dirty) to save on the wear and tear. (Progress Update: not working.) Also, I really enjoyed the article on making homemade body care products, such as hand sanitizer and scented body spray. (Another use for those essential oils I bought.)

Another great article was 25 great gifts for under $5. Fruit basket, anyone? If you're looking for ways to save money, I'd recommend checking it out from the library and looking through the different sections. Or, if you don't want to read the book, just read the website. (G, Recommended)

Shiny

A few Christmases ago, my husband and I flew into the John Wayne airport to visit my folks. We hadn't been out of Montana for awhile. The first thing we noticed as we went to the parking lot was, "Wow! These are really nice cars. And they're so clean!"

That's not to say that people in Montana don't have expensive cars. (I remember seeing a Hummer a few years ago. Every now and then I'll see a luxury car.) Nor is it to say that Montanans don't utilize the ubiquitous car washes in our town. I think the problem is that Montana is hard on cars.

It doesn't make sense to drive a fancy car on snowy roads. That job belongs to a ramped up truck with snow tires. Nor does it make sense to wash your car every other week during winter (if the car washes are even operating). I think Montana isn't the place for a Jaguar dealer. We need practical cars to keep us safe and warm and going in the right direction. California can keep her shiny, off-the-new-car-lot cars. I like my dirty Hyundai Santa Fe.

Bacon and Cheese Brunch Potatoes

The recipe for this gem comes from the Crock-Pot Recipe Collection.

Bacon and Cheese Brunch Potatoes
3 medium russet potatoes (approx. 2 lbs.), peeled and diced (I would go smaller than the picture.)
1 c. chopped onion (I use a little onion powder instead.)
1/2 tsp. seasoned salt
4 slices cooked bacon
1 c. shredded Cheddar cheese
1 Tbsp. water or chicken broth

1. Spray 4 1/2 quart slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. Put half of the potatoes in the pot. Sprinkle with half of the onions and seasoned salt. Top with 1/2 of the bacon and cheese. Repeat layers with the remaining half, ending with the cheese. Sprinkle the water or chicken broth on top.

2. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 1/2 hours. The potatoes and onions should be tender. Stir gently to mix and serve warm.

Rhoda's Flavored Pretzels

My friend Rhoda is a domestic diva. She brought these pretzels to our Swap Meet Party and I had to ask for the recipe. Here it is for your enjoyment!

Rhoda's Flavored Pretzels
15-20 oz. pretzels (I suggest the traditional shape)
3/4 c. oil
1 pkg. Ranch Dressing mix
1 1/2 tsp. dill weed
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. lemon pepper

Mix all ingredients in a large baking dish. (I used an aluminum turkey pan.) Bake at 250° for 30 minutes, stirring after 15 minutes. Allow to cool and then serve or store tightly.

Covering Up

I'd like to know the point of having your own space if you can't walk around it at varying degrees of being clothed. I would walk around the house with no pants and a certain person would claim that other people could see in through the window on our front door. We even did experiments to see if you could see in by going outside and peering in with different light combinations. The truth is, you can see in if you're at just the right spot in our yard, but you'd have to be in our front grass, which only seems to be a viable option for cats.

It was obvious that I needed to remedy this problem. Summer was coming and I wanted to exercise my no-pants option quickly. The space is too odd for curtains, so I headed to Michael's, knowing they'd have to have something to help. Initially, the sales girl recommended vellum with electrical tape. (Tacky!) She then suggested Contact paper. I ended up purchasing a 6-sheet pack of silk matte Contact paper. I cut it to size and stuck it on. I am now free to wear whatever I want, which at the moment involves fleece pajamas. And that works for me!

This post is being linked to Works for Me Wednesday.

The Double Comfort Safari Club

I know, I know! I already did a post on my love for Alexander McCall Smith. I just wanted you to know that number 11 in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is now out and available at the library.

In this beautiful tale, Phuti has an unfortunate accident, leading to some drama between Grace and his overbearing aunt, Precious is called to investigate a possible adultery - from both sides of the marriage, Violet shows her evil side (again) by stealing a house, and both Grace and Precious travel to a safari to surprise a guide with a gift from a dead patron.

My favorite part of the book is the sermon Precious listens to near the beginning. The visiting pastor explains that the message of the church is love. That's all.

Suggestion: read this book. I would give it a PG and a hearty recommendation. But, you have to read the other ones first!

Montana Yard Sales

I'm not sure how it is in the rest of the country, but Montana yard sales are typically awful. I am guilty of traveling to the more affluent areas to score better junk, but sometimes I am thwarted in my estimations. For instance, I traveled a long distance to an out-of-the-place moving sale off Golf Course Road a couple of Saturdays ago. The woman had a huge shed full of junk. I mean, I wouldn't use anything in there. I wouldn't even give it away to a charity. It needed to be trashed. (And I'm all for reuse prior to trashing something.) She was selling large plants at nursery prices, rusted filing cabinets and storage units, curtains and fabric from the 1990s, small trunks full of cheap wrapping paper for $5, and my personal favorite, a 1987-ish car seat for $15.

Anyone with sense knows that you're not supposed to purchase car seats at a yard sale, especially not one that's almost as old as I am. The point is that A) people sell junk, B) they overprice their junk, and C) ads should include the eras in which people live. For instance, the ad for the yard sale I attended should have read:

Moving Sale, Cleaning out storage shed not touched since 1992. Items may be dirty, rusted, or otherwise outdated, but I don't want to pay for the huge dumpster needed to clean up my life. I will be in the warehouse eating lunch and ignoring you.

I also attended one lately in another obscure place where a young man was selling VHS tapes with home-taped reruns of Married with Children for 50 cents. Is that even legal?

On the other hand, I have found some excellent items at sales here in town, including a dresser for $10, my desk, a kitchen hutch, landscape fabric still in the wrapping, and a Weber charcoal grill.

Bitterroot Mama's suggestions: If you have a yard sale, please sell your best junk. Don't try to send your kids to college with the proceeds. And please try for a little truth in advertising. Thank you.

Visit My Blissfully Domestic Post about Natural Garden Remedies

My second post at Blissfully Domestic is now available for your viewing pleasure. Please stop by and let me know what you think!

Winner of The Heart Mender

Random.org picked contestant number 1, Jennifer. A copy of The Heart Mender by Andy Andrews will be waiting for her when she gets home! Thanks to everyone else who entered.

Baked Ziti

Here's an easy recipe I started making recently. It can be made for carnivores or vegetarians alike.




Baked Ziti
1 lb. ziti or penne, cooked and drained
1 lb. sour cream
1 jar spaghetti sauce (I use Prego)
1 lb. hamburger or deer meat, cooked and drained of fat (optional)
1 c. mozzarella cheese, shredded (or more, if desired)

Mix cooked penne, sour cream, spaghetti sauce, hamburger (optional) and half of the mozzarella cheese in a large bowl or a casserole dish. Pour into 9x13 casserole dish or large Corningware. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella on the top. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is melted. Serve warm, with a salad and some garlic bread.

I buy sour cream because it's cheaper, but an alternative to the sour cream is a pound of ricotta cheese mixed with an egg. Prepare as above. And no, I'm not advocating deer meat.

First Planting

I did it! This week I successfully planted my potatoes and onions. It was going to be an easy chore, until I picked up a book about companion planting and my entire planting scheme was thwarted (in a good way). I went ahead and planted 12 seed potatoes in a 12" deep trench. Then, I mulched it with some straw from Lakeland Feeds. I had no idea that a bale was only $5. It's heavy though. When it's warmer, I'll plant bush beans there to complement the potatoes.

In addition, I planted some onion bulbs to the right of the potatoes. Initially, I didn't have any planting instructions, so I checked out ehow.com. The article said to put the bulbs on the surface of the dirt. It looked stupid. And it was stupid. I have since buried them at least an inch deep so they can grow. Is it obvious I'm just mediocre? The board in the picture is just a stand in until I can set up some real boards as walkways. They're to protect the fluffy soil from getting compacted and provide a little structure to my bed, which ended up being 20 feet by 11 feet. That's all I'm planting now. The rest will wait until Memorial Day weekend, when we will supposedly have our last frost.

A Family Traditions Book

I was thinking of traditions to start on Mother's Day and my mom called me with an idea not just for Mother's Day, but for every holiday: Create a family traditions book.

This special book can hold pictures of your family doing these events in the past, but it would be more than just a scrapbook. Kids (especially ones that can actually talk), enjoy the comfort of holiday routines. They make life special. The actual book can be as simple as a 3-ring binder holding your pages in sheet protectors. Each holiday would be showcased on at least one page, arranged chronologically. The inserts for each holiday can be paper or cardstock and contain pictures of your family, drawings by your kids, or typewritten instructions for your favorite recipes and/or crafts. When you're coming up on the holiday, you can show your kids what's been done in the past and tweak it for your circumstances during the current year. I thought this was a great idea and hope to start one soon for my family.

Do you have anything like this for your family? If so, how have you organized it?

This post is being linked to Works for Me Wednesday. If you're visiting, don't be shy! Enter the giveaway for Andy Andrews' book The Heart Mender.

The Heart Mender Giveaway

Were you intrigued after reading my review of The Heart Mender? If so, you're in luck, because Thomas Nelson Publishing sent me two books this time, one just for giving away to a reader. I am opening up this contest to anyone with a mailing address in the United States. If you would like to enter the drawing for a free copy, just leave a comment below. I'll pick the winner randomly on Friday morning (May 14) at 9:00 a.m. and send it to you. Please be sure to leave some kind of identification so I can get in contact with you because I'll have to send it Friday or Saturday. Best Wishes!
Bitterroot Mama

The Heart Mender by Andy Andrews

The Heart Mender, by Andy Andrews, is based on a true story, which he dramatizes. The tale, set in 1942-1943, follows Josef, a German stationed on a submarine in the Gulf of Mexico, and Helen, a young waitress angry at the world after her husband is killed. Helen finds Josef washed up on shore and has to decide whether to help him and offer forgiveness or leave him to die.

Of the few historical time periods I enjoy reading, WWII is one. The plot of The Heart Mender is fascinating (being a true story), but the dramatized events could have been more realistic. At some points during the book, the language felt forced and more like a sermon about forgiveness than a flowing tale. Although I was able to get into the story, I didn't connect as much with the characters as I wanted. Despite these flaws, it was an inspirational book and an easy read. I give it a PG and recommend it. [I received a complimentary review copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing, although I was under no obligation to provide a positive review. The opinions are all mine.]

Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital

It wasn't part of our plans, but we ended up in the emergency room of Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital on Saturday morning. One of my in-laws was in some pain, so we stopped by and ended up shuttling the person home after spending some time in the waiting room.

The waiting room is really nice. We were actually the only ones there. They have good magazines, lots of chairs, a TV, radio speakers, a designated children's area with books and another TV, and a set of restrooms (unfortunately without a changing table). During the wait, the baby and I read Goodnight Moon (after sanitizing it properly). Not having a copy at home, I thought we should get the classic - until I read it. Maybe I'm missing something, but I didn't think the book was that great. Maybe I won't buy it. We have lots of other books that I (and the baby) enjoy very much.

So, if you have to sit in a waiting room, Marcus Daly is not bad. It's pretty comfy. Frankly, I don't want to see it any more than I have to. The only reason to visit emergency rooms is when something is wrong or someone else is having a baby.

Menu Plan Week of May 9

I'm desperately trying to fill the freezer so my husband has meals while I'm on my big trip. These meals are also fast because I'd rather work in my garden than my kitchen this week.

Breakfasts: Waffles, Pancakes, Homemade Breakfast Bars, Eggs, Grilled Cheese (for me)

Lunches are always leftovers.

Dinners

Sunday: Sloppy Joes with Homemade Hamburger Buns

Monday: Lazy Stew

Tuesday: Pork Chops with Cumin Rice

Wednesday: Eggs and Pancakes

Thursday: Herbed Pork Loin with Brown Rice and Apples

Friday: Homemade Pizza and Salad

What are you eating this week? Visit Org Junkie for over 200 meal plans every Monday.

What I Want for Mother's Day

Dear Readers,
My computer was with the Geeksquad this week, as they replaced a bad graphics card. I apologize that I was not able to respond to your comments in a timely manner. Visiting the library with a squirmy 9-month-old was not an ideal situation for internet usage. Anyway, all is back to normal!

I thought long and hard about what I wanted for my first mother's day. I don't want "stuff." I want actions. Here's the list (feel free to forward it to my hubby):

1. I don't want to cook anything.
2. I don't want to wash a single dish (which I don't do on Sundays anyway, but I don't want to do on the following Monday either).
3. I want the yard trimmed with the weedwhacker. (I'd do it myself, but it scares me.)
4. I don't want the computer on. This means no Dodgers games, no internet, no nothing.
5. I don't want to change a single diaper.

What do you want for Mother's Day? Or, if you don't have kids, what are you doing for your mom for Mother's Day?

Happy Mother's Day! May all your wishes come true.
Love,
Bitterroot Mama

The Homemade Taco Experiment

Who wouldn't want to roll and fry their own whole wheat tortillas? Who wouldn't want to use their overstocked spice cabinet to jazz up hamburger instead of purchasing the little taco seasoning packets? Apparently a lot of people. I used to be one of them. Until now. Until...the Great Homemade Taco Experiment.

I ran across a great whole wheat tortilla recipe over at Coby's Corner. I've made it twice and had mixed results. The first time I made it with shortening and rolled them out on my Silpat baking sheet. They did OK, but they stretched a little. The second time I used half bacon grease (sounds gross, I know) and half shortening. They didn't end up as good as the first batch. I do recommend the recipe and helpful tutorial, but I'm still looking for one without as much fat.

Homemade Taco Seasoning
Here's the recipe I use to spice my taco meat. Add all of the below to about 1 pound of hamburger meat that's been cooked and drained.

1 Tbsp. chili powder
2 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. powdered oregano
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. water

Swap Meet Party Update

I attended my first Swap Meet Party last Thursday night, determined not to go home with anyone else's treasures. Unfortunately, when I saw them, I realized that I needed these items.

How can you ignore free books, a game, socks, kitchen decorations, a tiny purse, miniature picture frames, a neat bulletin board (that can be used in a myriad of ways), and a black vase? Wait a second...doesn't that vase look familiar?

It is, because I left with it. No one wanted it, so I felt sorry for it and had to bring it home. It just hasn't found the right home yet. But it will!

On with the details of the party! We were met with an easel detailing our instructions. Guests took a clothespin and a homemade tag for each item we brought. We had to write selling points on the tag for each item and attach it, either by tying or taping it on the item. Each item was then displayed on a table. Meanwhile, we wrote our names on each clothespin with a Sharpie marker. [Interlude to eat brownies and cream puffs.] Each guest drew a number, which told us the selection order. We went in 10 rounds (the maximum number of items we could bring) and clipped our clothespins on the items we wanted. More than one person could clip an item, so to better your odds, you could put as many clothespins on there as you wanted. At the end of the rounds, the winners were given their prizes. (If more than one person wanted an item, the clothespins were put into a bowl and one was drawn.) Writing and reading the inventive tags was the most fun of the entire party. People wrote hilarious selling points.

On the home front, the hubby called twice with a wailing baby in the background. I stood firm and (for once), wasn't the first to leave a party. When I returned, my husband was on his way out the door. "Look in the toilet," was all he said.

A casualty of the evening, the hair dryer had been kicked into the toilet by the baby as she flailed about in the Baby Bjorn. Why my husband had the hair dryer out on the counter is beyond me. He had to rush to Walgreens to get a new one, lest his perfect hair fall out of place. Luckily, he found a replacement and all is well again.

Except I have all this new stuff now. The clutter war continues...

Use a Mesh Bag

How many times have you washed a load of laundry in cold water, transferred everything to the dryer, and went to fold your clothes, only to realize you forgot to take out your daughter's brand new dress that must be hung to dry? It now fits only the gnome sitting in your front yard.

To prevent this tragic outcome, I suggest the mesh bag technique. Most people have one of these sitting around to use with your delicates. Ask the people in your house (if old enough) to put the clothes that can't handle the dryer in one of these mesh bags. Throw them in the wash in the bag and then remember to take out the entire bag and its contents when you transfer the laundry. Hang dry as normal. It would be nice to have enough for each laundry bin (I have three), but I usually just use it for our normal colored load.

This new technique is going to save me when I transfer loads in my sleep-deprived state into the dryer. Just don't tell the gnomes you heard it from me. It was high time they found their own wardrobe.

This post is being linked to Works for Me Wednesday.

Meal Plan for May 2

I'm trying something new posting my meal plan this week. I hope that it inspires me to post more recipes and try new things from the other meal plans posted on OrgJunkie.com every Monday. If you're new here, welcome! Feel free to snoop around.

Breakfasts

Frozen Waffles

Homemade Granola

Scrambled/Fried Eggs

Lunches are always leftovers.

Dinners

Sunday: Fried Chicken and Brown Rice

Monday: Homemade Chicken Enchiladas

Tuesday: Baked Ziti

Wednesday: Chicken Fried Rice with Broccoli

Thursday: Bacon and Cheese Brunch Potatoes (in crockpot) with Cornbread

Friday: Cream Cheese Chicken and Homemade Rice-a-Roni

Saturday: Sloppy Joes with Homemade Hamburger Buns

Plan B by Pete Wilson

It's the age old question: Why do bad things happen to good people? In Plan B, Wilson asks how Christians should respond to the unexpected, and often uninvited, turns in life, which he labels Plan B. He masterfully weaves stories about Biblical characters, personal anecdotes, and practical theology into a cohesive message of hope.

As a preacher's kid, I've heard it all. I loved this book because Wilson goes beyond the usual Sunday School answers and refuses to belittle or preach. Instead, Wilson is honest and humbly admits he doesn't have all of the answers. I've always struggled with wondering God's will for my life. He suggests that perhaps we should stop trying to figure out God's will and instead know God. Wow! This is one of many concepts he explores in this journey.

If Thomas Nelson Publishing hadn't sent me a complimentary review copy, I would be purchasing this book (or requesting it from the library). I encourage you to get your hands on one and keep a pen handy because there are so many nuggets of truth you'll want to underline. You don't have to be in a crisis to continue on your journey of spiritual transformation. Read this book and begin today!