A Couple more money saving tips

There have been so many good money saving tips on here since the "challenge".  I thought I'd add a couple I haven't seen, but you guys probably do.

1. Refill your own inkjet cartridges. 

Some people say that this isn't a good idea, but I've been doing it for years.  The colored ones are harder to fill correctly and I end up buying new every two or three refills.  The black are easy to refill and I haven't had to buy a black cartridge in over a year.  This can save me almost $50  a pop if I refill them both.

2. Try to always bring water bottles (filled from the faucet) and some home baked cookies, apples, etc. to help ward off hunger on those days when you spend the day in town.

3. Change your own oil.

This is so simple that even I can do it.

That's all I can thing of for now.

Have a wonderful Sunday.

From Glory Farm

Bread, Neighbors and....?

The flour mill my mom bought me for my birthday last year, finally got a work out.  The children and I all took turns grinding.  DD2 did the most.  She's my fitness buff.  She ground at least 8 cups, which is quite a workout with this mill.  I was able to make 4 loaves of bread and 2 of banana bread, with enough flour left for another 6 loaves.

 

My neighbor stopped by for a visit.  I've met her once before, and she had promised to drop by.  She was good to her word.  Nice lady.  She weaves rugs and has four knitting machines!  I was looking for somewhere to buy some new rugs to replace the ones my great-grandma wove.  They're getting rather worn.  Neighbors here are so neighborly!  I enjoy this.  I hope that I can learn from them to be neighborly too.  They help each other out continuously.  They have helped us out a lot already and we've only lived here 5 months.

 

On a different note, we're having a kind of spiritual war going on with our children.  We have a blended family and all four children spend time with the other parent every other week-end.  This has an effect on their behavior.  When they visit there they are in the midst of adulterous relationships, drinking, drugs, etc. and I wonder if living in this every other week-end will make them complacent.  I want them to love their parents, how do they love them and not accept what they do?  Does this make any sense?  Will my 15 year old think it's okay to live with her boyfriend because her dad lives with his girlfriend?  Even though we teach her differently, what is our responsibility?  What should we expect from her?  Should she let her dad know where she stands in Christ or is that too hard for a child to do?  And what about the younger two?  Do the older teens have a responsibility to walk in their faith during these week-ends to help the younger ones, so they don't get confused?  I could go on and on, but it's something I'm trying to work out.  Lord help me.

 

Well, off we go.  We get to go to the dump today.  Not my favorite trip, but DS loves it.

God bless your day,

From Glory Farm

So that was Christmas

Well, I guess it's back to life as usual.  We won't start school again until next week.  Ds recieved Electronic Battleship from Grandma.  It's a hit.  Literally.  Subs, aircraft, all kinds of different missiles, and a never ending droning voice alerting you of hits and misses.  Dd3 has a friend spending a couple of nights.  So they're testing all of her new toys.  It was a game type Christmas.  Yahtzee, Risk, Battleship...Somehow all of the dolls and Polly Pockets have made their way downstairs to the livingroom.  I think someone's bedroom may be too messy to find room to play. 

Christmas Eve was nice.  The lutefisk ( or fish jell-o, as DD2 calls it) wasn't as pungent as in years past.  I can live with that.  I discovered that while family taditions are nice, they're not what Christmas is about.  If that's all there is, it's seems hollow and meaningless.  My parents aren't Christians and I so wish that I could say that they were.  Traditions mean everything to my Mom.

Today I'm going to give my children a treat.  A chance to use my hand cranked flour mill. 

With a promise of fry bread for lunch, it just might work.

I do hope that your Christmas was blessed and you can follow the ramblings of this post.  It's a bit disjointed.

Love in Christ,

From Glory Farm

Tradition! Tradition!

Today I think we'll get a tree.  Nothing like waiting until the last minute.  We just haven't been able to find just what we want, so I think we'll settle for anything we get at this point.  I haven't started wrapping gifts, all of that to do today.  Maybe some cookies, house cleaning.  I have four blessings to help. 

My brother, neice and nephew will be up from the cities tomorrow and they haven't ever seen our "new" house.  In fact, I haven't seen my nephew since his first birthday.  He's now 15.

Christmas Eve will be at my parents house for the traditional lutefisk and rice pudding with the almond in it.  If you can save enough room for desert, and you dish up your rice pudding, and you get the almond, you get the almond gift.  The kids love it.  I'm usually too full to participate.  Christmas Day will find us home for most of it.  Maybe a trip down to my dh's relatives in Duluth.  We put our pickle on the tree, and whoever remembers to find it, gets the pickle gift.  A box of Little Debbie's works well for this.

This is our yearly schedule.  Tradition, I guess.  So until after Christmas, have a very blessed time.  Keep Christ in the middle of it, no matter where or who you're with.

Merry Christmas,

From Glory Farm

Christmas-presents and candy

Everyone asks, "Are you all ready for Christmas?"  Not hardly.  I don't know what's with me this year.  I love Christmas and I don't care if I'm ready or not this year.  We have NO snow.  But that's alright with me, too.  Almost everyone on my list is getting homemade this year, and it's not all done, but I think it will even if it takes a couple of 48 hour days.

 

I wanted to share with you one of my daughters' favorite candies.  I try to make these at Christmas, usually a double batch.  I LOVE cookie dough.  Blizzards, ice cream and these candies.

 

Cookie Dough Truffles

1/2 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 cups flour (not whole wheat)

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped walnuts ( I don't do walnuts)

1 1/2 pounds of semisweet chocolate candy coating (I just use almond bark.)

In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.  Add the flour, milk and vanilla, mix well.  Stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts.  Shape into 1 inch balls ;place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets.  Loosely cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.

In a  microwave safe bowl, melt candy coating, stirring often until smooth.  Dip balls in coating and place on waxed paper .  Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.  Store in fridge.  Makes 4-5 dozen

 

Have a blessed Christmas.  Remember what it is.  God gave us grace and the ability to extend that grace to others when He sent His Son as a gift for us.

 

From Glory Farm

The Dog, Christmas, and a sermon

 Well, we surprised my dh with his Bassett Hound "Flash, the Wonder Dog".  He really likes him, unfortunately, we're beginning to see why they wanted to find him a new home.  He likes to roam.  He doesn't go too far or too fast, but I don't know how long I can expect our neighbor to be understanding and patient.  Flash also doesn't seem to know his name.  This is great for him, when he goes visiting.  Problem is, he's going to get himself hit on the road sooner or later and no one should have to deal with that.  I'm not sure what to do with him.  There is a return policy.  The nice woman who had him, said that we could bring him back if he didn't work out.  I feel kinda bad bringing him back, but I'd feel worse if he got hit.

 

Does anyone else out there feel the financial crunch with Christmas?  I know it's not about presents, but it's hard when everyone seems to give you so much and they get homemade socks in return.  My parents give so much at Christmas, they outdo us as parents when it comes to the kids.  My children have friends who get ipods, DVD players, laptops, robots, etc. and they are going to end up with slippers and alarm clocks from us.  We told them that things are tight this year, but I don't think that they believe that.  We want our children to concentrate more on the real meaning of Christmas and I guess there's no time like the present.  (pun?)

 

Sunday.  Pastor was on fire this morning preaching about the moral decline of the country and how,as the church, we have a responsibility to love and pray for others and for our country.  He made the point that if we're to be like Christ, then why don't we have the crowds following us and wanting to hear us like Christ did?  Is it because we don't love them like Christ does?  That part is from last week's sermon, but I'd never really thought about that part of Christ's ministry.  Too busy trying to be "holy" to be loving?

 

Well, this was a jumble of ideas.  It's on to making more socks. 

God bless you and yours,

From Glory Farm

The Winter of Our "Discount Tent"

It's late, I know.  I should be in bed, but...I'm not sure why I'm up.  Maybe because I finally have some quiet and some time.  The weather has turned cold.  A month ago I was complaining about 30 degrees, now I'm complaining about minus 20.  It's a cold one tonight and I won't say that I enjoy it.  I've lived in Minnesota all of my life and used to think that cold was just a state of mind.  If you dressed for it, you could really enjoy yourself as your lungs iced up, your nostrils stuck together and the ice on your eyelashes was so heavy that you could barely see.  I think maybe with age comes a change in that state of mind.  Maybe you  get wimpy and whiney or maybe its wisdom.  I'm not sure.  My dh called from the Smokey Mountains tonight where he said it was a balmy 40 degrees.  It's sounding better and better.  How big are the bugs down there?  How poisonous are the snakes? 

One good thing about the cold, or so my mother says, it kills off the viruses.  If that's true, I'll be good and healthy while I enjoy another Minnesota winter.

Lord, help me to wake up each morning eager to start my day.  Grateful for the gift of it.  Full of energy and purpose.  I want to look forward to the promise that the day holds and be an encourager for my family and those around me.  Thank you.

Don't le the bed bugs bite.

From Glory Farm

News "Flash"

Laying at my feet is a 60 lb. Bassett Hound.  I went and took a look yesterday.  Always a mistake.  If you  don't see them, they don't come home with you.  This guy is so nice.  Just a gentle fellow.  His name is Flash.  I think it fits in a wierd sort of way.  He's a surprise for my husband who was supposed to be home tomorrow, but got re-routed by way of South Carolina.  Think we can keep this a secret until next week-end?  

Flash is a talker and may just end up spilling the beans himself.  Isn't he a handsome boy?

Have a great evening.

From Glory Farm