Sunday, March 25, 2012

Healing Foot and Spring

My ankle is just about healed, thank goodness. I have another week wearing the brace full time and then I have to wear it when I am out walking or exercising for another month. I am glad that it is almost well, but sad that it is not complete yet. I want to get outside while it is nice, especially before the heat sets in. We are in Central Georgia and it get unbearably hot here in the summer. I love spring and the breezes and getting outside when it is nice. In the summer I only go out early in the morning and sometime late in the evening if it cools off enough. We also spend alot of time in water, either at my mom's house or anywhere we can bum a pool. The kids like to go swim at the river, but I hate to swim in ponds and rivers. I just like to be able to see what is swimming with me.

I am hoping to sub a few days this week. The little kids that I babysit are on spring break. I also hope to get some housework and some organizing done. We will see how it goes. All of my meal for next week are either freezer meals or crock pot, just in case I get called in.

I am going to post later about my reformed way that I am shopping. No more coupons (well, maybe a few but not heavy). That is for another whole post. We have church tonight so I don't have time. Look for that to come later.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

New Adventures in Sourdough

I have been trying to get some sourdough going. I have tried this before and had little luck with it. I know it is frugal and it is supposed to be very healthy, but I have always had trouble getting the starter to work. Well, I have researched and read alot about sourdough and I tried it again. The first set of bread rose, but I did put a little yeast in the starter. My second rose some, but not great and the third batch did not rise at all. So, then I took the started out of the fridge and started feeding it again and after a few more days it looked like good starter and a was bubbly again. I mixed up some honey whole wheat sourdough last night and now look at it.





I think it looks pretty good. I hope it bakes well. I am so excited that this is working. I did not put any more yeast in it, so it is true sourdough. I am hoping to incorporated it into more baked goods. Yummy yum yum!



I other news, we are heavily into baseball right now. I think Evan is doing pretty well considering that he is the youngest on the team and the shortest. We are only practicing right now. I don't know how they will do as a team but I really don't care. I just like watching them. I don't care if they win or lose, I just want them to have fun and learn the game.



Well, I guess I will go and put this bread in the oven. I hope it tastes as good as it looks!

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Catching up

Do you ever feel like you spend most of your time trying to play catch-up? Steven and I doled the kids out to different people on Friday night and we spent the night with the youth group with our church. I stayed at the church with the girls and Steven stayed with the boys across the street in our old pastoral. We didn't sleep much, but the girls had fun and got to go to a conference and learn about the lord. I was glad to serve, even if I was tired the next day.

We had our town's annual festival also this weekend. Ashley usually dances at it, but since she was with the youth group we just watched my niece dance. We then walked around, ate a gyro and a fried Oreo, and went home. My foot wouldn't allow for much more, but it was enjoyable. We had my sister in law and brother in law over for homemade pizza for dinner. Busy but enjoyable. Now is the catch up time. I made the little kids clean their bathrooms and their rooms since we were not here this Saturday to do it then. I hate it but there is no maid and the week starts tomorrow.

We are doing a women's study at church on Sunday nights. I feel guilty that I am going and not helping Steven, but he said that he didn't mind. I love a good women's study. He knows this and supports me in this. He is a great husband!

Friday, March 9, 2012

BACK IN THE SADDLE

Well, I got the boot off of my foot this week and I am now wearing a brace.  I still have some weakness and soreness in my ankle, but it is doing much better.  I can walk much easier in this brace, so I decided to go the the grocery today.  I went to Aldi because I saw that they had .99 cent pineapples and .79 cent strawberries and I was not disappointed.  We have already eaten one of the packages of strawberries and made a dent in the pineapples.  I also got some other staples:


I spent $48 total.  I thought this was a good price for what I got :  four boxes of cereal, sugar, lettuce, cans  of tomatoes, 2 milks, oil, pasta, chips, crescent roll, and  few other odds and ends.  I still need to go to Kroger.  They have whole chickens on sale and I need some ground chuck for hamburgers.  This is the menu for the week:

Monday:  Chicken wings, mac and cheese, carrots (Emma's request).

Tuesday:  Spaghetti and salad

Wednesday:  Chili

Thursday :  Whole chicken, pasta salad, green beans

Friday:  Chicken/broccoli braid

Saturday:  Pizza

Sunday:  Hamburgers and hot dogs  (Sunday regular)

We eat cereal, bagels, eggs and toast or oatmeal for breakfast.  Some of the kids buy lunches at school and some pack a sandwich, chips and fruit.  Steven and I usually eat leftovers or make sandwiches.


Thursday, March 1, 2012

Sourdough Bread

I have been trying to get back into the kitchen after breaking my ankle.  I love being in the kitchen and organizing my home, but the last few weeks everything has been put aside.  I have been wanting to make sourdough bread for a while.  The last time I tried it, it was a flop.  The bread never rose and I hated that all of that work went out the window.  Well, this past few weeks I have been researching online other people's sourdough.  I got many tips and tried it again.  Well, this time it worked.



I haven't baked it yet, but it has risen up nicely.  It is honey whole wheat and if we like the taste I will post the recipe.  I am super excited.  This kind of bread is supposed to be great for you.

I am also trying to make some yogurt.  We have been eating two huge containers of yogurt a week.  That runs about $5.00, but I can make the same amount myself for about $1.50.  I cooked it on the stove and now it is sitting in my crockpot with a towel around it.


The last time that I tried this it didn't set up good.  I am hoping for better results!