I think.....

.....it's just going to be one of those days.
Note: I had to restart to post today cause computer was having issues. I'm telling....it's just going to be one of those days.

Love This!!

Ok...you can think I'm crazy but I LOVE this thing!! My aunt ME told me about this and I thought, 'well that's nice'. Then my friend Nikki told me about it and I thought, 'my aunt has that...that's nice.' Then ANOTHER friend told me about it and I thought, 'maybe I should get one of these!' LOVE IT!! Works just like going to the salon. A must for a Flipfloppingmamma like myself.

It All Comes Out.....

in the wash. I swear...this kid....there are actually clothes in that washer! Now he has tried them both out.

Enjoying the Autumn Day

We enjoyed Autumn Fest at a local nature area. We couldn't have asked for a better day. The kids enjoyed painting their very own walking sticks. Sissy really got into it.
Riding the train through the woods.

Sissy and Little Farmer dancing to some local musicians. Bubby looking at them like they are crazy.

Pumpkin Hat

I saw this super cute pattern for a Pumpkin Hat and decided I HAD to make it. I made one for FarmerFoley's cutie and then I couldn't stop....made two more for Meagan's girls.
It was super easy and cheap to make. Shhhh! Don't tell them though...they think it's really hard to knit.

How Dare They?!

I found out this week McDonald's raised the prices of their large drinks. So, I guess this means I'm off the sauce! (Man! I have a headache!)Can't bring myself to pay $1.65 a couple times a week for the large Coke. I know I could go down to the nearest motomart and get one for less than a dollar but....that would require me to unstrap two children and haul them into the store. That takes thought and I might just talk myself out of it before I get the Coke bought. And.....you ever taken two children into a convenience store? It's not pretty. They want EVERYTHING! It's much easier to go through the drive through at McDonald's. Wonder how long I can hold out.....

Fancy Noodles

I discovered my new rolling pin makes triangle dumplings! So, of course, I had to try them out.

All the Right Moves

My dad is once again the Illinois Checker Champion. You didn't even know there was such a thing did you? Well, he is and we are SO PROUD of him!

He is always trying to teach the kids how to play. Bubby seems to be getting the hang of it here.

He's really starting to rack up the points....King me!!

He's a natural!Hey Papa...look over there!! I win!

Apple Pie with Homemade Crust

I have recently had a couple different people (ok...it was one person) ask me how to make pie crust. So, I have decided since my Blog is my voice to the world I will post how crazy simple it is to make pie crust. I am no expert....that would be my mom but since she doesn't have a blog I will educate you on pie crust instead of her. (Maybe I need guest bloggers?????....I'm going to have to look into that.)

First, you need to start out with 2/3 Cup butter flavored Crisco. It HAS to be butter flavored and it HAS to be cold. I keep mine in the fridge all the time. I have also found this handy dandy Measure All cup from Pampered Chef. I LOVE this thing! Crisco is pretty much the only thing I use it for but it's also handy for mayo or peanut butter.

Add the Crisco to 2 cups of flour. Always spoon your flour into your measuring cup...never scope it. You will pack it down and it will not be the same amount.

After you have added the Crisco to the flour use a pastry blender, pastry cutter, a spoon or whatever you want to blend the Crisco with the flour. You want to cut it into the flour not just stir it. I have a ongoing debate with Meagan about whether you should use a food processor or not. We have both seen Paula Deen and Martha Stewart use a food processor to combine their flour and Crisco. Meagan swears by it and I am still undecided. The food processor does make great dough but for this particular demonstration I am going to do it the old fashion way.

You want the flour and Crisco to be very crumbly. Once it is thoroughly mixed start adding COLD tablespoons of water. You will probably use 5-6 tablespoons of water (more or less). After each tablespoon keep cutting the Crisco into the flour.

You want the mixture to start forming a ball. You do not want it sticky but you also do not want it so dry it is falling apart.

Form the dough into two balls to make a bottom and top crust.

Make sure your counter is well floured and/or use a nonstick pastry mat (like I use). Also, try to roll the dough out on a cool counter top. In other words....don't roll it out on the counter above your warm dishwasher. It will stick!

After rolling out the dough place in a large pie plate.

Fill with apples. I used about 6 cups of apples, 1 cup of sugar, 2 tablespoons of cornstarch (for thickening) and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Roll out your second ball of dough. This particular pie I used my new handmade rolling pin my mom gave to me. It has grooves cut into it so you can cut the dough into strips with ease. Not only is it beautiful it makes a wonderful top for a pie!

This new rolling pin makes the easiest lattice pie top. I love it!! After placing all the stripes of dough on the top crimp the edges. We are almost done...hang with me!

After crimping the edges of the pie take an egg yolk and a tablespoon of water and whisk it up. Take your fingers and lightly spread the egg yolk over the top of the pie. Do not pour or you will have fried egg on top of your pie. Just dab it on the top for a wonderful golden color. After you have added the egg yolk cut up butter and lay it across the top. I probably used about a half a stick of butter....it just depends on how much butter you want.

Now you can sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. You can buy the cinnamon and sugar already combined or you can add it individually. You are done! You have just made an entire pie crust from scratch all by yourself. Now cook it. 400 degrees for 45minutes to an hour. You could also freeze it before you cook it if you want. Just be sure to put the pie in a tin pie plate or a freezer to oven dish.

Note: Would you believe it took me longer to post about this pie than it did to actually make it? Now you see why I never get anything accomplished around here??!

For the Masses

I have been away from my blog for awhile and I apologize. I just realized it has been almost 2 weeks since I last posted. It seems like the week that I have to create the MOPS newsletter I use up all my free time on the newsletter instead of the blog. So, today I'm putting the newsletter aside in order to appease 'my people'.

We are in the absolute middle of a full blown fall right now. The colors are just AMAZING!

If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.

Enjoying What is Left

With the coming of fall I want to try and get the kids out as much as possible because I know it's only a matter of time before it snows here. It's coming...I can feel it!!

Hubby took Bubby to enjoy the park and carosoul one last time before it closed for the year.

Check out that face!
After the carousal they had to check out the firetruck and fire pole. I guess when Daddy is around you get to climb to the top of the fire pole by yourself. I do not let the kids do that alone....but Daddy's are like that.

It's a Cat Trap I Swear!

Since putting in our garden earlier this spring the rabbits have gone crazy around here. Hubby even found a rabbit nest in the garden! So, Papa told the kids they needed a rabbit trap to catch the pesky green bean eaters.

Check out that mouth!! He was so excited to use the power tools.

We brought the trap home and placed it in the backyard. Not sure what Hubby intended to do with the rabbit once we caught it but let's not think about that right now.

So, this past weekend we had friends visiting. The friend also happens to be the local CPO. He takes one look at our innocent little rabbit trap and says, "That's a cat trap, right?" Hubby said, "No, it's a rabbit trap, why?" Mr. CPO proceeds to tell him that rabbit traps are illegal unless you have a trapping license. Well, of course it's a cat trap! What else would it be Mr. CPO?

(By the way....we haven't seen a rabbit since we brought the stupid trap home!)

Fall Has Arrived

Part of me is a tiny bit happy that fall has finally arrived because this will mean the garden will stop growing and I can STOP CANNING!! I'm pretty excited about that. (But it also means snow is probably right around the corner!)The trees are starting to change and there is a crispness in the air this week. Last week mother nature fooled us and took the temperature back up into the 80's but this week it's right where it belongs.

I've finished all the canning...due manly to the fact there are no more jars to be had anywhere in town. I think the Aloha Knitter took them all! I'm sure I do not have as much as she does stored up in the basement but I'm pretty proud of myself.

Thanks to Hubby for building me such awesome shelves!!

Potatoes, cherries, peaches, green beans, grape juice, apples, tomatoes, salsa and apple butter. I have to say it's such a nice feeling when walking through the grocery store to know I do not have to buy any of these items. Now I just have to get myself to use them.....when making something I have to decide if it's 'jar worthy' or not.

By the way....when the Big One hits (whatever the Big One is) I'm going to my mom's....her shelves look better than mine.