Not Really a Recipe...

But, it sure is good!  

:-)

BLT Salad for One

Lettuce (you decide how much)

Tomato (I used 1/2 because I was being stingy and wanted to save the other half for tomorrow's lunch)

1 T Oscar Meyer Real Bacon Bits

1/4 C croutons

2 T Light Ranch Dressing

Mix all together and devour.  No picture; it's gone.  

(5 Points Plus; if you are counting)

:-)

I have a new recipe going in the crock pot for dinner, it sounded good, so I thought I'd give it a try and it had a good rating on Taste of Home's website.  Below is a link:  

CHIPOTLE SHREDDED BEEF

I'm serving ours with brown rice and cantaloupe.

Happy Monday!

HDP

Exploring the "New World"

Last week, dear son and I spent a good portion of Social Studies learning about Leif Ericson (the Viking explorer)...

So this afternoon, we donned our Viking helmets and went out on our own "New World" expedition.  :-)

It was a beautiful August afternoon with low humidity; which isn't typical in Southern Ohio.  

We haven't had a lot of rain, so the creek bed was mostly dry... 

While the "boys" turned over rocks looking for little creepy crawlies...

I was out looking for some pretty wild flowers to shoot...

These parts have been "founded" for some time...

but, you never know what you might discover...

in your own "back yard".

Wishing you a wonderful Sunday and an upcoming week of exploration and discovery.

Blessings to you and yours.

HDP

Building My Log Cabin...

 This afternoon I was able to grab a little "me" time and sit out on the deck "building" my log cabin afghan.  

Things have been busy in my household.  I've been trying to get the "homestead" ready for fall and the long winter months that will be here before we know it.  I guess you could say I've been fluffing the nest.  

But, "log" by "log", my "cabin" is coming along.  I do think this has been one of the slowest projects I've ever worked on though.  I'll blame it on the summer heat and the fact that each entire square is done in all single crochet.  

 

:-)

Once I get the ends woven in on my current square, I'll just have six left to complete.  

(Yippie!).  

Now, if I could get a square in each day, I'd be stitching this together next week.  We'll have to see how my days go.  It's a good goal anyway!  

Happy Monday and I hope you are making time for a little crochet today (or whatever hobby brings a smile to your face).

HDP

Back To School...

It's Thursday already, and we almost have our first week of school under our belts... 

Phonics and Math have mostly been review, but we've had fun exploring some new subjects in the form of Science, Social Studies, and Spelling to name a few.  

Yesterday we had art class and I introduced the little one to Vincent Van Gogh's The Starry Night, then we painted our own swirling rendition; it was fun.  One of the books I'm using for Art is Art Treasury; it's an Usborne book.  Each project has a little introduction section (to the work of art), then they give instructions for creating your own artwork in the same medium.  It's a pretty cool book. 

This afternoon after school we headed to the park for a little walk and play time.  The park is an old farm that was donated to the county and they've really made it a wonderful family place to visit.  

We found an old walnut tree on the property and dear son had fun playing with the green fruit (nut).  

Summer was busy and it seemed short since we started school early.  But, I know come June next year, we'll be glad we did. 

Fall's just around the corner, and it's my favorite season.  I think I'm going to look into going apple picking this year...something to think about anyway.  

:-)

HDP

Playing Around...

I've been playing around with yarn...

scrap yarn that is.  

I have a LOT of scrap yarn that's been begging me to do something with it.  So I decided to work on some traditional granny squares here and there.  

And...

when I have enough...

I'll stitch them together to make a blanket.

I also officially started the 2nd half of the Log Cabin Afghan.  At the rate I'm going, it will probably be another month before it's done...

Happy Stitching!

:-)

HDP

Thinking About...

"The weather grew colder...The days were growing short and a little fire burned all day in the cookstove to keep the house warm.

The attic and the cellar were full of good things once more, and Laura and Mary had started to make patchwork quilts.  Everything was beginning to be snug and cosy again."

excerpt from Little House in the Big Woods

by Laura Ingalls Wilder

   I just finished reading Little House in the Big Woods to my son.  I read a chapter a night to him at bedtime.  

The Laura Ingalls Wilder series of books were some of my favorites growing up and they have a great historical view point of how the early "pioneers" lived.  

The above excerpt is from the last chapter of the book and really struck a cord with me; even now as an adult.  The coziness of home is as important today as it was back then.  We may not build a storehouse of food for the winter, but I'm looking forward to putting my crock pot to good use making soups, stews, chili's and casseroles for my little family.  Who knows, I may even bake in it this year.  Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook has some interesting recipes for breads, steamed puddings and cakes that I may try.

About this time of year, every year, I start to yearn for the change of season from hot, humid summer to cool, crisp autumn.  

Not much longer...

and in the meantime, we have air conditioning.  

:-)

HDP

A Sense of Accomplishment

I finally have a sense of accomplishment.  

:-)

My crochet mojo has been out the window lately.  Summer has us out of our usual routine and outdoors more, which doesn't leave a lot of time for my crochet.  

I wanted to do something quick, that I knew I could complete in a couple of days.  Yes, it took me two days to complete two dishcloths!  But I did it!  LOL!

This is my 29 Stitches Dishcloth minus the reverse single crochet in the final round.  I got the cotton at WalMart marked down to .99 cents.  I thought it was cheery and "kitcheny".  

I made these for my sis, whose dishwasher is broken, so they are back to hand washing dishes for a family of four.  I'll give these to her the next time I see her.  

It's Friday and the weekend is upon us.  

I hope you have a great one!

HDP